Adeno‐associated virus‐mediated expression of acid sphingomyelinase decreases atherosclerotic lesion formation in apolipoprotein E^−/− mice

Abstract

Unexpectedly, the lesion area of the entire aorta was reduced significantly in the AAV8-ASM virus-treated group. Hepatic expression and secretion of ASM into the circulation did not accelerate or exacerbate, but rather decreased, lesion formation in ApoE(-/-) mice. Thus, plasma ASM activity does not appear to be rate limiting for plaque formation during atherogenesis.