Genes expressed in monocyte/macrophage cell differentiation and atherosclerotic plaques in WHHL rabbits.

Genetic defects in the LDL receptor give rise to hypercholesterolemia and lead to atherosclerosis in humans and rabbits. Although the LDL receptor pathway clearly demonstrated how hypercholesterolemia is induced by a defect in the receptor, the mechanism by which hypercholesterolemia causes atherosclerosis remains to be elucidated. To elucidate the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation, we isolated cDNAs for mRNAs either induced or suppressed during the monocyte/macrophage differentiation. In addition, we have also obtained a cDNA for the mRNA specifically expressed in WHHL rabbit aorta.