When mice lack a specific receptor called FFAR4 and eat a high-fat diet, their artery plaques develop bigger dead-cell areas inside, which makes the plaques more dangerous.
Scientific Claim
FFAR4 deficiency in ApoE−/− mice fed a Western diet for 16 weeks is associated with a 43% larger necrotic core area in aortic sinus plaques in males and a 37% larger necrotic core area in females compared to ApoE−/− controls, indicating greater plaque instability.
Original Statement
“Despite similar sizes of lesions in the aortic sinus, ApoE−/−/Ffar4−/− mice had larger necrotic cores compared with the ApoE−/− control mice. In fact, male and female mice had 43% and 37% increases in the necrotic lesion area, respectively.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
Based on abstract only - full methodology not available to verify. The study is an animal cohort study without confirmed randomization or blinding, so causal language is inappropriate. The verb 'is associated with' is conservative and correct.
More Accurate Statement
“FFAR4 deficiency in ApoE−/− mice fed a Western diet for 16 weeks is associated with a 43% larger necrotic core area in aortic sinus plaques in males and a 37% larger necrotic core area in females compared to ApoE−/− controls.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report
When mice lack a protein called FFAR4, their artery plaques develop bigger dead-cell areas (necrotic cores), which makes the plaques more likely to rupture and cause heart problems — and this happened in both male and female mice.