Platelet-specific TGF beta1 deficiency aggravates atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, and hypercholesterolemia in mice

Atherosclerosis involves inflammatory and thrombotic mechanisms, to which both platelets and transforming growth factor beta contribute. The effect of platelet-derived TGF beta on atherosclerosis is, however, unknown and therefore investigated. Murine platelet-selective TGF beta-deficiency (plt-TGF beta-/-) was created by a Pf4-Cre approach, and an atherosclerotic mouse model was established by functional abrogation of Ldlr and 10-15 weeks of a high-fat diet in plt-TGF beta-/- mice and their non-plt-TGF beta-/- littermates.Total RNA of the aorta was isolated according to the manufacturers instructions,the library was constructed according to the BGI Genomics.