Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease affecting large- and medium-sized arteries and it is the main underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. Animal models, particularly mouse models, represent powerful tools to uncover disease mechanisms. Through a combination of genetic and diet manipulation, several mouse models for atherosclerosis research have been developed, with the apolipoprotein E and low-density lipoprotein receptor models being the most widely used. However, these mouse models remain relatively resistant to atherosclerosis development in coronary arteries and development of atherosclerosis related myocardial infarction, key features of human atherosclerotic disease. The discovery that the scavenger receptor class B type 1 acted as a high affinity high-density lipoprotein receptor and the inactivation of its gene in mice allowed for the generation of new models exhibiting either spontaneous or diet-induced occlusive coronary artery atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. This review will discuss mouse models of coronary heart disease, highlighting their characteristics and focusing on those dependent on scavenger receptor class B type 1 deficiency.