Reduced Size and Macrophage Content of Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions in Mice with Bone Marrow Specific Deficiency of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

摘要: In macrophages the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) modulates production of inflammatory cytokines, cholesterol accumulation and lipoprotein uptake. Recently, our laboratory showed that selective stimulation α7nAChR protects from apoptosis, an effect is absent in α7nAChR-deficient macrophages. All these observations are suggestive a potential role macrophage atherosclerosis. Mouse models disease with bone marrow deletion represent attractive approach to address vivo relevance vitro findings. However, recent studies focused on impact hematopoietic deficiency early atherosclerotic lesions low density knockout (LDLRKO) mice, yielded controversial results. The question also remained whether characteristics advanced lesions. Here we used LDLR mice transplanted wild-type or animals revisit examine, for first time, its plaques. Aortic sinus were analyzed following 8 14 weeks high fat diet. Early deficient not different those control animals. exhibited reduction size, content cell proliferation. These examining mouse model provide novel evidence underscoring pro-atherogenic α7nAChR.