Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Induction of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice
Published on: September 26, 2018
Endothelial responses to oxidized lipoproteins determine genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis in mice
W Shi1, M E Haberland, M L Jien
1Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles 90095- 1679, USA.
Background:
Oxidized LDL has been found within the subendothelial space, and it exhibits numerous atherogenic properties, including induction of inflammatory genes. We examined the possibility that variations in endothelial response to minimally modified LDL (MM-LDL) constitute one of the genetic components in atherosclerosis.
Methods And Results:
By a novel explant technique, endothelial cells (ECs) were isolated from the aorta of inbred mouse strains with different susceptibilities to diet-induced atherosclerosis. Responses to MM-LDL were evaluated by examining the expression of inflammatory genes involved in atherosclerosis, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), an oxidative stress gene, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and other, noninflammatory, genes. ECs from the susceptible mouse strain C57BL/6J exhibited dramatic induction of MCP-1, M-CSF, and HO-1, whereas ECs from the resistant strain C3H/HeJ showed little or no induction. In contrast, ECs from the 2 strains responded similarly to lipopolysaccharide.
Conclusions:
These data provide strong evidence that genetic factors in atherosclerosis act at the level of the vessel wall.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammation
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

