Figure 6. Increased expression and activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in Bmal1 KO mice.
Increased gelatinolytic activity in carotid artery post ligation. Equal amounts of tissue homogenate were loaded on SDS-PAGE gels containing gelatine. (A) Gelatinolytic activity associated with MMP-9 was equally induced at day 3 after ligation in both Bmal1-KO and WT ligated common carotid arteries. After 3 weeks of ligation gelatinolytic activity associated with MMP-9 and MMP-2 was significantly increased in Bmal1-KO compared to WT littermate controls (N=4) Remodelled arteries were dissected and protein lysates were isolated and separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis from littermate control wild-type mice versus Bmal1-KO mice at a single time point (12 PM). Expression levels of MMP-9 (B) and MMP-2 (C) were significantly increased in remodelled left common carotid arteries relative to wild-type mice. Changes were quantified by densitometry (*p<0.05 versus WT). (N=4 Wild-type, N=4 Bmal1-KO)