Leiden Metabolic Research Services (LMRS) provides a large contract research program on energy metabolism in relation to obesity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Within this field of expertise we offer custom-made drug and dietary intervention studies in our unique APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mouse model, a well-established model for human-like lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis.
Main advantage over other mouse models
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Responds to lipid-lowering and HDL-increasing interventions similarly as humans: accomplished by its intact expression of apoE and the LDL receptor, and transgenic expression of human CETP. Of note, apoE-deficient and LDL receptor-deficient mice do not respond to lipid-lowering interventions.
Human-like pathologies
√ Dyslipidemia, with plasma lipid levels easily titrated to desired levels.
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Insulin resistance, which develops on high-fat diets.
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Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with hepatic accumulation of lipids and inflammatory cells.
√ Atherosclerosis, driven by both cholesterol and inflammation.
Validated intervention strategies
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Lipid-lowering strategies, with reduction of atherosclerosis (e.g.
statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, fibrates).
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HDL-raising strategies, with reduction of atherosclerosis (e.g.
CETP inhibitors, niacin).
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Anti-diabetic strategies, with improvement of insulin sensitivity (e.g.
GLP1 analogs, rosiglitazone).