Lack of acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption and attenuates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

ABSTRACT: Triacylglycerols (TG) are the major storage molecules of metabolic energy and fatty acids in several tissues. The final step in TG biosynthesis is catalyzed by acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymes. Lack of whole body DGAT1 is associated with reduced lipid-induced inflammation. Since one major component of atherosclerosis is chronic inflammation we hypothesized that DGAT1 deficiency might ameliorate atherosclerotic lesion development. We therefore crossbred Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice with Dgat1(-/-) mice. ApoE(-/-) and ApoE(-/-)Dgat1(-/-) mice were fed Western-type diet (WTD) for 9weeks and thereafter examined for plaque formation. The mean atherosclerotic lesion area was substantially reduced in ApoE(-/-)Dgat1(-/-) compared with ApoE(-/-) mice in en face

SUBMITTER: Chandak PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3223411 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature