Human C-reactive protein does not promote atherosclerosis in transgenic rabbits.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although there is a statistically significant association between modestly raised baseline plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) values and future cardiovascular events, the debate is still unsettled in regard to whether CRP plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

We generated 2 lines of transgenic (Tg) rabbits expressing human CRP (hCRP). The plasma levels of hCRP in hCRP-Tg-1 and hCRP-Tg-2 rabbits were 0.4+/-0.13 (n=14) and 57.8+/-20.6 mg/L (n=12), respectively. In addition, hCRP isolated from Tg rabbit plasma exhibited the ability to activate the rabbit complement. To define the role of hCRP in atherosclerosis, we compared the susceptibility of hCRP-Tg rabbits to cholesterol-rich diet-induced aortic and coronary atherosclerosis

SUBMITTER: Koike T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2910368 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature