Fas knockout (Fas-/-) mice are a model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) -like autoimmune syndromes. We aimed to induce atherosclerosis (AS) in Fas-/- mice. Sixteen male Fas-/- mice were included in the study, sex-matched C57B6/L (B6) and apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-/-) mice were negative and positive AS controls, respectively. A silica collar was placed around the right carotid artery of each mouse to induce AS development. All mice were fed a 24-week high-fat diet, and investigated for AS lesions. We also compared the levels of blood lipid and glucose, serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) antibody in Fas-/- mice with those in B6 or ApoE-/- mice. All ApoE-/- and 6 Fas-/- but no B6 mice showed atherogenesis in right carotid artery. The carotid plaque contains more collagen and less lipid in Fas-/- than ApoE-/- mice. The levels of blood glucose, serum TNF-α, IL-6, ANA, and anti-dsDNA antibody were significantly higher in Fas-/- mice than those in B6 mice, the levels of serum TNF-α and blood glucose were significantly higher and the level of blood lipid was significantly lower in Fas-/- mice than those in ApoE-/- mice. Therefore, carotid AS can develop in Fas-/- mice. Fas-/- mice display higher levels of serum IL-6, TNF-α, ANA, and anti-dsDNA than B6 mice, higher levels of serum TNF-α and blood glucose and lower level of blood lipid than ApoE-/- mice, and less lipid and more collagen in AS plaque than ApoE-/- mice.
Keywords: Lupus mice; atherosclerosis; carotid artery.