Inhibition of rupture of established atherosclerotic plaques by treatment with apolipoprotein A-I

AIMS: Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol correlate inversely with the incidence of myocardial infarction in humans. We investigated the effect of treatment with human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the principal protein of HDL, on plaque disruption in an animal model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy apolipoprotein E knockout mice were induced to develop atherosclerotic lesions in the brachiocephalic artery by feeding a high-fat diet for 9 weeks. Mice then received twice-weekly treatment with human apoA-I (8 mg/kg) or vehicle, for 2 weeks. The incidence of acute plaque disruption was reduced by 65% in mice receiving apoA-I (P <0.01). Plaques in treated mice had a more stable phenotype, with an increase in smooth muscle cell (SMC): macrophage ratio (P = 0.05), principally the consequence of an increase in the number of SMC in plaques. In the fibrous cap, there were reductions in matrix metalloproteinase-13 (-69%, P <0.0001) and S100A4, a marker of SMC de-differentiation (-60%, P <0.0001). These results indicate that 2 weeks of treatment with small amounts of human apoA-I produces more stable plaques in a mouse model. CONCLUSION: Treatment with apoA-I has the potential to stabilize plaques and prevent plaque rupture in humans.