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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
. 1992 Aug 1;89(15):7134–7138. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.15.7134

Marked reduction of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in mice genetically modified to lack apolipoprotein A-I.

R Williamson 1, D Lee 1, J Hagaman 1, N Maeda 1
PMCID: PMC49660  PMID: 1496008

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. In humans the risk of atherosclerosis is inversely correlated with plasma levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL). As a step in determining whether the experimental reduction of plasma HDL level will increase susceptibility to atherosclerosis, we have used gene targeting in embryonic stem cells to produce mice lacking apolipoprotein A-I, the major protein component of HDL particles. Mice homozygous for the disrupted gene have no plasma apolipoprotein A-I detectable by double immunodiffusion; their total plasma cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels after overnight fasting are reduced to about one-third and one-fifth of normal levels, and they are grossly deficient in alpha-migrating HDL particles.

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Selected References

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