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Alcohol Feeding Impedes Early Atherosclerosis in Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice: Factors in Addition to High‐Density Lipoprotein‐Apolipoprotein A1 Are Involved
Author(s) -
Dai Jiang,
Miller Barbara A.,
Lin Renee C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1997.tb03722.x
Subject(s) - knockout mouse , ldl receptor , apolipoprotein b , medicine , lipoprotein , low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 8 , apolipoprotein e , endocrinology , high density lipoprotein , receptor , chemistry , very low density lipoprotein , biology , cholesterol , disease
The effect of alcohol feeding on the development of atherosclerosis was investigated in low‐density lipoprotein receptor gene‐knockout (LDLR −/‐ ) mice. Eight‐week‐old male mice were pair‐fed athero‐genic liquid diets containing ethanol at different levels (w/v; group A, 5%; group B, 2.5%; and group C, 0%). Tissue sections of the heart were stained with Oil Red O to examine for fatty lesions in proximal aorta. Results showed that the lesion size of group A was 70% smaller than group C after 6 weeks. By contrast, the lesion size of group B was not significantly different from that of group C. Serum high‐density lipoprotein‐apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) A1 in LDLR −I‐ mice was suppressed by feeding the atherogenic diet, but the decrease was negated by alcohol (both groups A and B). The effectiveness of 5% alcohol to protect against atherosclerosis waned with time, but was still noticeable at 12 weeks, even though serum apo A1 remained high. Serum apolipoprotein E was increased by the high fat diet, but not altered by alcohol in the diet. Our data, therefore, show that: (1) alcohol‐feeding impedes early atherosclerosis in LDLR −/‐ mice (this effect of alcohol is dose‐dependent); (2) the protective effect of alcohol is not entirely attributable to an elevated serum high‐density lipoproteiwapo Al; and (3) severe impairment of lipoprotein metabolism due to a lack of low‐density lipoprotein receptors can eventually overwhelm the protective effect of alcohol against atherosclerosis.