Macrophage sphingomyelin synthase 2 deficiency decreases atherosclerosis in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS)2 contributes to de novo sphingomyelin (SM) biosynthesis and plasma membrane SM levels. SMS2 deficiency in macrophages diminishes nuclear factor kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation induced by inflammatory stimuli.

Objective

The effects of SMS2 deficiency on the development of atherosclerosis are investigated.

Methods and results

We measured cholesterol efflux from macrophages of wild-type (WT) and SMS2 knockout (KO) mice. We transplanted SMS2 KO mouse bone marrow into low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLr) knockout mice (SMS2(-/-)-->LDLr(-/-)), creating a mouse model of SMS2 deficiency in the macrophages. We found that SMS2 deficiency caused significant induction of cholesterol efflux in vitro and in vivo

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2746935 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature