Deletion of tenascin-C gene exacerbates atherosclerosis and induces intraplaque hemorrhage in Apo-E-deficient mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Tenascin-C (TNC), a matricellular protein, is up-regulated in atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated whether the deletion of TNC gene affects the development of atherosclerosis in a murine model.

Methods

TNC-/-/apo E-/- mice were generated and used for atherosclerosis studies. We compared these results to those observed in control groups of apo E-/- mice.

Results

The en face analysis of aortic area showed that the mean aortic lesion area of the double knockout (KO) mice was significantly higher than that of control mice at different times after feeding of atherogenic diet; the accumulation of lesional macrophages and lipids was significantly higher. Analysis of cell adhesion molecules revealed that vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), but not intercellul

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3345312 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature