An anti-αVβ3 antibody inhibits coronary artery atherosclerosis in diabetic pigs.

•Insulin deficient diabetic pigs fed a high cholesterol diet for 20 weeks developed extensive coronary atherosclerosis.•Hyperglycemia stimulates secretion of extracellular matrix proteins that bind αVβ3. This activates αVβ3 in diabetic animals.•Injection of an antibody against a specific epitope in the β subunit of αVβ3 inhibited atherosclerotic lesion development.•The antibody also inhibited macrophage infiltration into lesions as well as MAP kinase activation and cell proliferation.•Inhibition of αVβ3 offers a potential therapy for inhibition of atherosclerotic lesion development in patients with diabetes.