Background
High levels of apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) can lead to hypertriglyceridemia, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. We
Conclusion
APOC3 deficiency can delay the formation of atherosclerosis-induced HFD in rabbits, indicating this is a novel therapeutic target to treat atherosclerosis.
Methods
An sgRNA anchored to exon 2 of APOC3 was designed to edit embryo genomes using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The founder rabbits were sequenced, and their lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, and atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed.
Results
When given a normal chow (NC) diet, all APOC3-KO rabbits had 50% lower triglyceride (TG) levels than those of the matched age control group. Additionally, their plasma lipoprotein lipase increased. When fed a high-fat diet, APOC3 deficiency was observed to be more conducive to the maintenance of plasma TG, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and the inhibition of the inflammatory response and the protection against atherosclerosis in rabbits.