Endothelial deficiency of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor reduces endothelial barrier function and promotes atherosclerosis in <i>Apoe</i>-deficient mice
Yusuke Higashi, Sergiy Sukhanov, Shaw‐Yung Shai, Svitlana Danchuk, Patricia Snarski, Zhaohui Li, Xuwei Hou, Milton H. Hamblin, T. Cooper Woods, Meifang Wang, Derek Wang, Hong Yu, Ronald J. Korthuis, Tadashi Yoshida, Patrice Delafontaine
Abstract
Endothelial insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor deficiency significantly elevated atherosclerotic burden in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, mediated at least in part by downregulation of intercellular junction proteins and, thus, elevated endothelial permeability. This study revealed a novel role for IGF-1 in supporting endothelial barrier function. These findings suggest that IGF-1's ability to promote endothelial barrier function may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.