Figure 1.

Schematic overview of approach to assessing the efficacy of EndMT inhibition in a preclinical large animal AVF model. (A) Phase 1: Evaluation of SMAD3 knockdown efficacy and EndMT inhibition. The AVF in the right leg was harvested from six pigs, 8 days after AVF creation, where three pigs were randomized to receive lentivirus carrying scramble shRNA and the other three pigs received lentivirus carrying SMAD3 shRNA. (B) Phase 2: Evaluation of the effect and efficacy of EndMT inhibition by SMAD3 knockdown in this pig AVF model. The AVF in the right leg was harvested from 16 pigs, 30 days after AVF creation, where eight pigs were randomized to receive lentivirus carrying scramble shRNA and the other eight pigs received lentivirus carrying SMAD3 shRNA.