Adiponectin Reduces Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of adipocyte-derived bioactive molecules plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific plasma protein, accumulated in the injured artery from the plasma and suppressed endothelial inflammatory response and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, as well as macrophage-to-foam cell transformation in vitro. The current study investigated whether the increased plasma adiponectin could actually reduce atherosclerosis in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were treated with recombinant adenovirus expressing human adiponectin (Ad-APN) or beta-galactosidase (Ad-betagal). The plasma…