| First Author | Kuzuya M | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol | Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 1120-5 |
| PubMed ID | 16556856 | Mgi Jnum | J:278311 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6323301 | Doi | 10.1161/01.ATV.0000218496.60097.e0 |
| Citation | Kuzuya M, et al. (2006) Effect of MMP-2 deficiency on atherosclerotic lesion formation in apoE-deficient mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26(5):1120-5 |
| abstractText | OBJECTIVE: Although it has been reported that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 is a major proteinase in atherosclerotic plaque lesions, there is no direct evidence of the role of MMP-2 in atherosclerotic lesion formation. In the present study we determined the role of MMP-2 in atherosclerosis plaque development using apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: To generate MMP-2-deficient, apoE-deficient mice (MMP-2(-/-):apoE(-/-)), MMP-2(-/-) mice were crossed with apoE(-/-) mice. After 8 weeks of feeding with a lipid-rich diet, morphological and biochemical studies of the aortic sinus and arch were conducted. A significant reduction of the atherosclerotic plaque in the aortic sinus and arch with the decrease in smooth muscle cell-positive area was observed in MMP-2(-/-):apoE(-/-) mice compared with that of MMP-2(+/+):apoE(-/-) mice. Macrophage- and collagen-positive areas were less in aortic sinus but not in aortic arch in MMP-2(-/-):apoE(-/-) mice. There was no difference of MMP-9 mRNA expression in the plaque lesion between the 2 genotypes. A much lower level of mRNA expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was detected in the atherosclerotic plaque lesions of MMP-2(-/-):apoE(-/-) mice than in those of MMP-2(+/+):apoE(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2 contributes to the development of atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice. |
