Elevated circulating TGF-β is not the cause of increased atherosclerosis development in biglycan deficient mice.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Vascular biglycan contributes to atherosclerosis development and increased biglycan expression correlates with increased atherosclerosis. However, mice deficient in biglycan have either no reduction in atherosclerosis or an unexpected increase in atherosclerosis. Biglycan deficient mice have systemically elevated TGF-β, likely due to lack of sequestration of TGF-β in the extracellular matrix. The purpose of this study was to determine if prevention of TGF-β elevations in biglycan deficient mice affected atherosclerosis development. METHODS:Biglycan deficient mice were crossed to Ldlr deficient mice. Diabetes was induced via streptozotocin and all mice were fed a high cholesterol diet. Diabetic biglycan wild type and biglycan deficient Ldlr deficient mice were injected w

SUBMITTER: Thompson JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5750111 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature