Recombinant Mouse Apolipoprotein E(Apoe)

APOE knockout mice display severe hypercholesterolemia associated with impaired clearance of dietary fats. Excess cholesterol is more particularly associated with the atherogenic very low and intermediate density lipoproteins in the plasma. These mice are therefore prone to atherosclerosis. Animals with a double knockout of APOE and CD36, fed a Western diet for 12 weeks, exhibit much lower levels of CXCL1, CXCL2 and CCL5 mRNA expression in the descending aorta and a corresponding decrease in atherosclerotic lesion formation, compared to APOE single knockout mice. Animals with a double knockout of APOE and TLR4 or TLR6 also have less aortic plaque formation than single knockout mice. All 3 double knockout show lower serum concentrations of IL1A, ILB and IL18.