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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1994 Sep 27;91(20):9607–9611. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.20.9607

Human apolipoprotein A-I gene expression increases high density lipoprotein and suppresses atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse.

A S Plump 1, C J Scott 1, J L Breslow 1
PMCID: PMC44862  PMID: 7937814

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental determinants. Apolipoprotein (Apo) E-deficient mice have been created that are highly susceptible to atherosclerosis. In order to assess the role of human apolipoprotein (hApo) A-I and high density lipoprotein (HDL) in atherosclerosis susceptibility, transgenic mice overexpressing the hApo A-I gene were crossed with Apo E-deficient mice. Apo E-/-, hApo A-I mice with two-fold elevation in HDL cholesterol have markedly diminished atherosclerosis with less fibroproliferative lesions by 8 months of age. A strong reciprocal relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis was found with HDL levels accounting for 78% of the observed variance in mean lesion area. The effect of HDL on atherosclerosis resistance was independent of non-HDL cholesterol.

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Selected References

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