Analysis of in situ and ex vivo αVβ3 integrin expression during experimental carotid atherogenesis.

Objective Mural inflammation has been shown to contribute to the development of plaque, with the αVβ3 integrin highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. We herein examined αVβ3 integrin expression as a function of carotid atherosclerosis formation in the apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE−/−) mouse.