Atorvastatin increases endoglin, SMAD2, phosphorylated SMAD2/3 and eNOS expression in ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice

Abstract

Endoglin is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein that has been demonstrated to affect transforming growth factor beta signaling and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression by affecting SMAD proteins in vitro. Thus, in this study we stepped forward to elucidate whether endoglin is co-expressed with SMAD2, phosphorylated SMAD2/3 proteins and eNOS in vivo in atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice.