Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cholesterol-rich diet affects transforming growth factor-beta-RIII (endoglin) levels in blood and 2 endoglin-related pathways in the aorta of ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice. Hypercholesterolemia increases endoglin levels in blood and simultaneously decreases its expression in aorta, together with atherosclerosis protective markers p-Smad2 and VEGF, followed by increased plaque size.
Inhibition of endoglin signaling might be one of the mechanisms responsible for the promoting of endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. Moreover, the monitoring of endoglin serum levels might represent an attractive blood marker of progression of disease; however, the precise source and role of endoglin in blood serum remains to be elucidated.