ANIMAL MODEL OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL APOPTOSIS

摘要

This invention relates to non-human animal model which expresses a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a receptor for an apoptotic agent, such as diphtheria toxin (DT), specifically in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) of blood vessel walls. This allows apoptosis to be induced with very high specificity in these VSMCs and provides a useful model system for a range of vascular conditions, including angiogenesis, calcification and atherosclerosis.