C-Kit expression in smooth muscle cells reduces atherosclerosis burden in hyperlipidemic mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Increased receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity has been historically linked to atherosclerosis. Paradoxically, we recently found that global deficiency in c-Kit function increased atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic mice. This study aimed to investigate if such unusual atheroprotective phenotype depends upon c-Kit's function in smooth muscle cells (SMC).

Methods

We studied atherosclerosis in a SMC-specific conditional knockout mice (Kit^SMC) and control littermate. Tamoxifen (TAM) and vehicle treated mice were fed high fat diet for 16 weeks before atherosclerosis assessment in the whole aorta using oil red staining. Smooth muscle cells were traced within the aortic sinus of conditional c-Kit tracing mice (Kit^SMC eYFP) and their contr

SUBMITTER: Zigmond ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8096668 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature