Models and Analysis of Atherosclerosis, Restenosis, and Aneurysm Formation in the Mouse

Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory condition of the vessel wall and involves a high chronic concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in blood. In humans, restenosis develops after intravascular interventions such as angioplasty and stent placement to treat atherosclerosis, and this process is characterized by excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation that re-occludes the vessel lumen. Aortic aneurysm formation is caused by severe degradation and thus dilatation of the vessel wall, in part due to atherosclerosis. Each of these vascular pathologies has its specific characteristics at onset and during development of the disease, and to study the involvement of specific genes in detail, various (transgenic) mice have been generated. Here, we aim to provide detailed insight in considerations to choose and set up the appropriate mouse model for specific vascular research questions. Additionally, we provide technical details to execute experiments with these animal models. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 2:317-345 © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc