Journal
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 113, Issue -, Pages 70-76Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2018.12.004
Keywords
mTOR inhibition; Everolimus; Advanced atherosclerosis; Brain hypoxia; Intraplaque neovascularization
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Funding
- Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)-Flanders [G044312N, G016013N]
- University of Antwerp (BOF)
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Background and aims: Inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a promising approach to halt atherogenesis in different animal models. This study evaluated whether the mTOR inhibitor everolimus can stabilize pre-existing plaques, prevent cardiovascular complications and improve survival in a mouse model of advanced atherosclerosis. Methods: ApoE(-/-)Fbn1(C1039G+/-) mice (n = 24) were fed a Western diet (WD) for 12 weeks. Subsequently, mice were treated with everolimus (1.5 mg/kg daily) or vehicle for another 12 weeks while the WD continued. Results: Despite hypercholesterolemia, everolimus treatment was associated with a reduction in circulating Ly6C(high) monocytes (15 vs. 28% of total leukocytes, p = 0.046), a depletion of plaque macrophages (2.1 vs. 4.1%, p = 0.040) and an abolishment of intraplaque neovascularization, which are all indicative of a more stable plaque phenotype. Moreover, everolimus reduced hypoxic brain damage and improved cardiac function, which led to increased survival (100 vs. 67% of animals, p = 0.038). Conclusions: Everolimus enhances features of plaque stability and counters cardiovascular complications in ApoE(-/-)Fbn1(C1039G+/-) mice, even when administered at a later stage of the disease.
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