Vimentin deficiency in macrophages induces increased oxidative stress and vascular inflammation but attenuates atherosclerosis in mice.

ABSTRACT: The aim was to clarify the role of vimentin, an intermediate filament protein abundantly expressed in activated macrophages and foam cells, in macrophages during atherogenesis. Global gene expression, lipid uptake, ROS, and inflammation were analyzed in bone-marrow derived macrophages from vimentin-deficient (Vim^-/-) and wild-type (Vim^+/+) mice. Atherosclerosis was induced in Ldlr^-/- mice transplanted with Vim^-/- and Vim^+/+ bone marrow, and in Vim^-/- and Vim^+/+ mice injected with a PCSK9 gain-of-function virus. The mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 12-15 weeks. We observed impaired uptake of native LDL but increased uptake of oxLDL in Vim^-/- macrophages. FACS analysis revealed increased surface expr

SUBMITTER: Haversen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6242955 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature