Endothelial-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerotic lesion calcification

KI Boström, J Yao, PJ Guihard, AM Blazquez-Medela… - Atherosclerosis, 2016 - Elsevier
Background and aims Endothelial-mesenchymal transitions (EndMTs) in endothelial cells
(ECs) contribute to vascular disease. Methods We used ApoE−/− mice fed a high-fat/high-
cholesterol diet. Results We reported evidence of EndMT in atherosclerotic lesions
contributing to calcification. Stem cell and mesenchymal markers, including sex-determining
region Y-box 2 (Sox2), were upregulated in aortic ECs of fat-fed ApoE−/− mice. Limiting
Sox2 decreased marker expression and calcification in ApoE−/− aortas. Furthermore, a …