APOE-knockout in rabbits causes loss of cells in nucleus pulposus and enhances the levels of inflammatory catabolic cytokines damaging the intervertebral disc matrix.

ABSTRACT: Rabbits with naturally high levels of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), unlike rodents, have become an interesting animal model for the study of lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, as they have similarities to humans in lipid metabolism, cardiovascular physiology and susceptibility to develop atherosclerosis. Rodents, such as mice, are not prone to atherosclerosis as they lack the mass and activity of CETP, as a key player in lipoprotein metabolism. Recently, APOE-knockout in rabbits has been shown to promote atherosclerosis and associated premature IVD degeneration that mimic the symptoms of atherosclerosis and structural changes of IVDs in humans. Here we examined whether APOE-knockout promoted IVD degeneration in rabbits is associated with imbalanced inflammatory catabolic ac

SUBMITTER: Beierfuß A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6871866 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature