Valproate Attenuates Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Hyperglycemic ApoE-Deficient Mice Evidence in Support of a Role for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 in Lesion Development and Hepatic Steatosis

We have previously shown that glucosamine promotes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in vascular cells leading to both inflammation and lipid accumulation--the hallmark features of atherosclerosis. Pretreatment with glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 inhibitors protects cultured cells from ER stress-induced dysfunction. Here we evaluate the potential role of GSK-3 on the pro-atherogenic effects of hyperglycemia and ER stress. We show that …