Foam cells from aorta and spleen overexpress apolipoprotein E in the absence of hypercholesterolemia
1992
Crespo, P. | Ros, M.A. | Ordovas, J.M. | Rodriguez, J.C. | Ortiz, J.M. | León, J.
We have studied Apo E expression in atherosclerotic lesions and spleens in rabbits after a cholesterol-rich diet is discontinued and plasma cholesterol levels return to normal values. After 16 weeks, foam cells are still present in the atherosclerotic lesions and Apo E expression persists restricted solely to the lesion as ascertained by in situ RNA hybridization and northern blot. Apo E expression is induced in spleens of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. However Apo E mRNA levels decrease in this organ parallel to the disappearance of lipid loaded macrophages. These results of in vivo studies indicate that Apo E overexpression in foam cells does not depend on high serum cholesterol levels, but is a characteristic of macrophages that have acquired the foam cell phenotype.
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