Nanoparticle-Directed Antioxidant Therapy Can Ameliorate Disease Progression in a Novel, Diet-Inducible Model of Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. In cardiovascular research using murine models, the generation and maintenance of models with robust coronary arterial atherosclerosis has been challenging. METHODS: We characterized a new mouse model in which the last 3 amino acids of the carboxyl terminus of the HDL (high-density lipoprotein) receptor (SR-B1 [scavenger receptor class B, member 1]) were deleted in a low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR −/− ) mouse model (SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− ) fed an atherogenic diet. We also tested the therapeutic effects of an oxidative stress-targeted nanoparticle in atherogenic diet–fed SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− mice. RESULTS: The SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− mice fed an atherogenic diet had occlusive coronary artery atherosclerosis, impaired cardiac function, and a dramatically lower survival rate, compared with LDLR −/− mice fed the same diet. As SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− mice do not exhibit female infertility or low pup yield, they are far easier and less costly to use than the previously described SR-B1–based models of coronary artery disease. We found that treatment with the targeted nanoparticles improved the cardiac functions and corrected hematologic abnormalities caused by the atherogenic diet in SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− mice but did not alter the distinctive plasma lipid levels. CONCLUSIONS: The SR-B1ΔCT/LDLR −/− mice developed diet-inducible, fatal atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, which could be ameliorated by targeted nanoparticle therapy. Our study provides new tools for the development of cardiovascular therapies.