Apolipoprotein A-I Vascular Gene Therapy Provides Durable Protection Against Atherosclerosis in Hyperlipidemic Rabbits

摘要

ObjectiveGene therapy that expresses apolipoprotein (apo) A-I from vascular wall cells has promise for preventing and reversing atherosclerosis. Previously, we reported that transduction of carotid artery endothelial cells with a helper-dependent adenoviral vector (HDAd) expressing apo A-I reduced early (4 weeks) fatty streak development in fat-fed rabbits. Here we tested whether the same HDAd could provide long-term protection against development of more-complex lesions.