Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice on high-fat diet show autoimmune injury on kidney and aorta

Background: Apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice is a classic model of atherosclerosis. We have found that ApoE(-/-) mice showed splenomegaly, higher titers of serum anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody compared with C57B6/L (B6) mice. However, whether ApoE(-/-) mice show autoimmune injury remains unclear. Methods and results: Six females and six males in each group, ApoE(-/-), Fas(-/-) and B6 mice, were used in this study. The titers of serum ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and creatinine and urine protein were measured by ELISA after 4 months of high-fat diet. The spleen weight and the glomerular area were determined. The expressions of IgG, C3 and macrophage in kidney and atherosclerotic plaque were detected by immunostaining followed by morphometric analysis. Similar to the characteristics of Fas(-/-) mice, a model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ApoE(-/-) mice, especially female, displayed significant increases of spleen weight and glomerular area when compared to B6 mice. Also, elevated titers of serum ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and creatinine and urine protein. Moreover, the expressions of IgG, C3 and macrophage in glomeruli and aortic plaques were found in ApoE(-/-) mice. In addition, the IgG and C3 expressions in glomeruli and plaques significantly increased (or a trend of increase) in female ApoE(-/-) mice compared with males. Conclusions: Apolipoprotein E-knockout mice on high-fat diet show autoimmune injury on kidney and aorta. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.