Dataset Information

Accelerated atherosclerosis development in C57Bl6 mice by overexpressing AAV-mediated PCSK9 and partial carotid ligation.

ABSTRACT: Studying the role of a particular gene in atherosclerosis typically requires a time-consuming and often difficult process of generating double knockouts or transgenics on ApoE-/- or LDL receptor (LDLR)-/- background. Recently, it was reported that adeno-associated-virus-8 (AAV8)-mediated overexpression of PCSK9 (AAV8-PCSK9) rapidly induced hyperlipidemia. However, using this method in C57BL6 wild-type (C57) mice, it took ~3 months to develop atherosclerosis. Our partial carotid ligation model is used to rapidly develop atherosclerosis by inducing disturbed flow in the left common carotid artery within 2 weeks in ApoE-/- or LDLR-/- mice. Here, we combined these two approaches to develop an accelerated model of atherosclerosis in C57 mice. C57 mice were injected with AAV9-PCSK9 or AAV9-luciferase (control) and high-fat diet was initiated. A week later, partial ligation was performed. Compared to the control, AAV-PCSK9 led to elevated serum PCSK9, hypercholesterolemia, and rapid atherosclerosis development within 3 weeks as determined by gross plaque imaging, and staining with Oil-Red-O, Movat's pentachrome, and CD45 antibody. These plaque lesions were comparable to the atherosclerotic lesions that have been previously observed in ApoE-/- or LDLR-/- mice that were subjected to partial carotid ligation and high-fat diet. Next, we tested whether our method can be utilized to rapidly determine the role of a particular gene in atherosclerosis. Using eNOS-/- and NOX1-/y mice on C57 background, we found that the eNOS-/- mice developed more advanced lesions, while the NOX1-/y mice developed less atherosclerotic lesions as compared to the C57 controls. These results are consistent with the previous findings using double knockouts (eNOS-/-_ApoE-/- and NOX1-/y_ApoE-/-). AAV9-PCSK9 injection followed by partial carotid ligation is an effective and time-saving approach to rapidly induce atherosclerosis. This accelerated model is well-suited to quickly determine the role of gene(s) interest without generating double or triple knockouts.

SUBMITTER: Kumar S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563968 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Accelerated atherosclerosis development in C57Bl6 mice by overexpressing AAV-mediated PCSK9 and partial carotid ligation.

Kumar Sandeep S Kang Dong-Won DW Rezvan Amir A Jo Hanjoong H

Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology 20170515 8

Studying the role of a particular gene in atherosclerosis typically requires a time-consuming and often difficult process of generating double knockouts or transgenics on ApoE<sup>-/-</sup> or LDL receptor (LDLR)<sup>-/-</sup> background. Recently, it was reported that adeno-associated-virus-8 (AAV8)-mediated overexpression of PCSK9 (AAV8-PCSK9) rapidly induced hyperlipidemia. However, using this method in C57BL6 wild-type (C57) mice, it took ~3 months to develop atherosclerosis. Our partial car ...[more]

PMID: 28504688

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) has been established as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, and the involvement of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in atherosclerotic lesions is complex. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) has vital importance in lipid metabolism, and its inhibitors have intense lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects. However, the underlying effect of PCSK9 on HHcy-accelerated dyslipidemia of macrophages is still uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of PCSK9 in Hcy-induced lipid accumulation and atherosclerotic lesions. Methods: In vitro, gene and protein expressions were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot in THP-1 macrophages with Hcy incubation. Lipid accumulation and cholesterol efflux were evaluated with Hcy treatment. SBC-115076 was used to examine the role of PCSK9 in ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and G1 (ABCA1 and ABCG1)-dependent cholesterol efflux. In vivo, lesion area, lipid deposition and collagen contents were determined in aortas of ApoE-/- mice under a methionine diet. SBC-115076 was subcutaneously injected to explore the potential effects of PCSK9 inhibition on alleviating the severity of HHcy-related atherosclerotic lesions. Results: In THP-1 macrophages, Hcy dose- and time-dependently promoted PCSK9 gene and protein levels without regulating the translation of Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). SBC-115076 used to inhibit PCSK9 largely alleviated lipid accumulation and reversed the cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein-I(apoA-I) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) mediated by ABCA1 and ABCG1. In ApoE-/- mice, methionine diet induced HHcy caused larger lesion area and more lipid accumulation in aortic roots. SBC-115076 reduced atherosclerotic severity by reducing the lesion area and lipid accumulation and increasing expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in macrophages from atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, SBC-115076 decreased plasma Hcy level and lipid profiles significantly. Conclusion: PCSK9 promoted lipid accumulation via inhibiting cholesterol efflux mediated by ABCA1 and ABCG1 from macrophages and accelerated atherosclerotic lesions under HHcy treatment. Inhibiting PCSK9 may have anti-atherogenic properties in HHcy-accelerated atherosclerosis.

Project description:RATIONALE:The mechanisms driving atherothrombotic risk in individuals with JAK2 V617F ( Jak2 VF) positive clonal hematopoiesis or myeloproliferative neoplasms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE:The goal of this study was to assess atherosclerosis and underlying mechanisms in hypercholesterolemic mice with hematopoietic Jak2 VF expression. METHODS AND RESULTS:Irradiated low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout ( Ldlr-/-) mice were transplanted with bone marrow from wild-type or Jak2 VF mice and fed a high-fat high-cholesterol Western diet. Hematopoietic functions and atherosclerosis were characterized. After 7 weeks of Western diet, Jak2 VF mice showed increased atherosclerosis. Early atherosclerotic lesions showed increased neutrophil adhesion and content, correlating with lesion size. After 12 weeks of Western diet, Jak2 VF lesions showed increased complexity, with larger necrotic cores, defective efferocytosis, prominent iron deposition, and costaining of erythrocytes and macrophages, suggesting erythrophagocytosis. Jak2 VF erythrocytes were more susceptible to phagocytosis by wild-type macrophages and showed decreased surface expression of CD47, a "don't-eat-me" signal. Human JAK2VF erythrocytes were also more susceptible to erythrophagocytosis. Jak2 VF macrophages displayed increased expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, prominent inflammasome activation, increased p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling, and reduced levels of MerTK (c-Mer tyrosine kinase), a key molecule mediating efferocytosis. Increased erythrophagocytosis also suppressed efferocytosis. CONCLUSIONS:Hematopoietic Jak2 VF expression promotes early lesion formation and increased complexity in advanced atherosclerosis. In addition to increasing hematopoiesis and neutrophil infiltration in early lesions, Jak2 VF caused cellular defects in erythrocytes and macrophages, leading to increased erythrophagocytosis but defective efferocytosis. These changes promote accumulation of iron in plaques and increased necrotic core formation which, together with exacerbated proinflammatory responses, likely contribute to plaque instability.

Dataset Information

Accelerated atherosclerosis development in C57Bl6 mice by overexpressing AAV-mediated PCSK9 and partial carotid ligation.

Publications

Accelerated atherosclerosis development in C57Bl6 mice by overexpressing AAV-mediated PCSK9 and partial carotid ligation.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets