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Title: Overexpression of Mitofusin 2 inhibited oxidized low-density lipoprotein induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation in rabbit

Journal Article · · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
OSTI ID:21032978
 [1];  [2];  [1]; ;  [2];  [2]
  1. Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, No. 49, North Garden Road, Beijing 100083 (China)
  2. Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Peking University, Beijing 100083 (China)

Our previous studies have implies that Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), which was progressively reduced in arteries from ApoE{sup -/-} mice during the development of atherosclerosis, may take part in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we found that overexpression of Mfn2 inhibited oxidized low-density lipoprotein or serum induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by down-regulation of Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Then we investigated the in vivo role of Mfn2 on the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits using adenovirus expressing Mitofusin 2 gene (AdMfn2). By morphometric analysis we found overexpression of Mfn2 inhibited atherosclerotic lesion formation and intima/media ratio by 66.7% and 74.6%, respectively, compared with control group. These results suggest that local Mfn2 treatment suppresses the development of atherosclerosis in vivo in part by attenuating the smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by lipid deposition and vascular injury.

OSTI ID:
21032978
Journal Information:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 363, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.08.191; PII: S0006-291X(07)01932-8; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English