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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Attenuated atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice lacking amyloid precursor protein
Tim J L Van De Parre1, Pieter-Jan D F Guns, Paul Fransen
1Division of Pharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Objective:
Recent evidence suggests that amyloid precursor protein (APP) is overexpressed in atherosclerosis-prone regions of mouse aorta. We therefore investigated in the present study whether APP has a role in the progression and composition of atherosclerotic plaques.
Methods And Results:
Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice were crossbred with animals lacking APP (APP(-/-)). After 16 weeks on a Western-type diet, apoE(-/-) and APP(-/-)/apoE(-/-) mice showed similar cholesterol levels. However, atherosclerotic plaque size was significantly reduced in the distal thoracic aorta (90% reduction) and abdominal aorta (75% reduction) of APP(-/-)/apoE(-/-) mice as compared to apoE(-/-). Plaques at the level of the aortic valves were not different in size, but showed a more stable phenotype in APP(-/-)/apoE(-/-) mice, as indicated by a reduced macrophage content, an increased amount of collagen and a thicker fibrous cap.
Conclusion:
Our findings provide evidence that lack of APP attenuates atherogenesis and leads to plaque stability.
