Molekulare und genetische Medizin

Exploring Genetically Modified Animals for Development of New Atherosclerosis Treatments in NHLBI

Abstract

Boris L Vaisman, Lita Freeman and Alan T Remaley

Development of New Animal Models of Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis and complications associated with this pathology, such as coronary artery disease, remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world [1]. Dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factors leading to development of the atherosclerosis [2,3]. Peripheral (non-hepatic) cells, including arterial and aortic cells, obtain cholesterol from either de novo synthesis or from uptake of plasma lipoproteins. To prevent atherosclerosis, excess cholesterol must be removed from cells. This process takes place through the reverse cholesterol transport pathway [4,5], a process whereby cells efflux excess cholesterol to HDL, which subsequently delivers cholesterol to the liver for excretion into the bile.