USE OF TRANSGENIC MICE IN LIPOPROTEIN METABOLISM AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS RESEARCH

In APoE3-Leiden transgenic mice the atherosclerotic lesion size is co rrelated with plasma cholesterol, In these mice the plasma lipid level s are positively correlated with the relative amount of APOE 3-Leiden protein on the VLDL particle. The plasma cholesterol levels are influe nced by diet, age and gender, mainly due to an effect of these factors on VLDL production rate, Excess of APOC1 protein does inhibit the hep atic clearance of VLDL remnant particles, whereas excess of apoE leads to a hampered extra-hepatic lipolysis of VLDL triglyceride.