Smooth muscle cell-specific insulin-like growth factor-1 overexpression in Apoe-/- mice does not alter atherosclerotic plaque burden but increases features of plaque stability.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Growth factors may play a permissive role in atherosclerosis initiation and progression, in part via their promotion of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation in plaques. However, unstable human plaques often have a relative paucity of VSMC, which has been suggested to contribute to plaque rupture and erosion and to clinical events. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an endocrine and autocrine/paracrine growth factor that is a mitogen for VSMC, but when infused into Apoe(-/-) mice it paradoxically reduces atherosclerosis burden.

Methods and results

To determine the effect of stimulation of VSMC growth on atherosclerotic plaque development and to understand mechanisms of IGF-1's atheroprotective effect, we assessed atherosclerotic plaques in mice overe

SUBMITTER: Shai SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2940990 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature