Abstract 12277: Angiopoietin-Like Protein2 (angptl2)-Induced Vascular Inflammation Causes the Progression of Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis

Chronic vascular inflammation in coronary artery plays crucial roles in pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, however the molecular mechanisms have not been fully clarified. Recently, we reported that adipose tissue-derived Angptl2, which promotes vascular inflammation through activating the integrin α5β1/Rac1/NF-κB pathway, is a key mediator linking obesity to adipose tissue inflammation and systemic insulin resistance (Cell Metabolism 2009). Recently, we found the expression of Angptl2 in endothelial cells and macrophages in human coronary atheromatous plaque by immunohistochemical analysis. To further investigate the role of endothelial cells-derived Angptl2 in the atherosclerosis, we generated transgenic mice expressing Angptl2 driven by the endothelium-specific promoter Tie2 (Tie-2-Angptl2). Firstly, RT-PCR analysis revealed that chronic vascular inflammation exist in Tie-2-Angptl2 transgenic mice compared to wildtype mice. Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced vasorelaxation was impaired in isolated descen...