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Thromb Haemost 2002; 88(02): 329-334
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613206
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Schattauer GmbH

Overexpression of Fibrinogen in ApoE*3-Leiden Transgenic Mice Does not Influence the Progression of Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis

F. Rezaee
1   Department of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
M. J. Gijbels
2   Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
E. H. Offerman
1   Department of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
M. van der Linden
3   Center for Human Drug Research (CHDR), Leiden, The Netherlands
,
M. P. M. De Maat
1   Department of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands
,
J. H. Verheijen
1   Department of Vascular and Connective Tissue Research, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 25 October 2001

Accepted after resubmission 06 May 2002

Publication Date:
07 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Although many epidemiological studies have shown an association between hyperfibrinogenemia and atherosclerosis, it is not established whether elevated fibrinogen has an etiological role in the pathogenesis or is only a reflection of the ongoing disease.

We have studied the contribution of fibrinogen to the development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis-prone ApoE*3-Leiden mice that have been cross-bred with transgenic mice overexpressing fibrinogen. Genetic compound offspring were used to evaluate the progression of atherosclerotic lesions after being fed an atherogenic diet for 7 weeks. It was observed that the lesion area of the plaques as well as the severity of the lesions in the aortic valve was comparable in control single transgenic ApoE*3-Leiden mice and in double transgenic apoE*3-Leiden mice overexpressing fibrinogen. No thrombus or fibrin deposition was observed in atherosclerotic lesions in either group of mice.

These results indicate that elevated plasma fibrinogen concentrations in ApoE*3-Leiden transgenic mice do not affect the progression of diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions.

Keywords

Atherosclerosis - fibrinogen overexpression - transgenic mouse
 

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