Effect of MLL2 knockdown on SR-B1 expression and plasma cholesterol level in mice. Athymic nude (nu/nu) mice were ip administered 300 μg phosphorothioate MLL2 antisense three times at 24-h intervals. Mice were euthanized or sequentially perfused with 4% formaldehyde at 48 and 96 h after final administration. Control mice were administered either PBS or a scramble antisense with no homology with MLL2. A, Plasma cholesterol level. Blood from MLL2 antisense-treated and control mice were collected at 48 and 96 h and subjected to total cholesterol quantification using a commercial cholesterol assay kit. Cholesterol levels in control, scramble, or antisense-treated mice were plotted. Bars indicate se (n = 3, P ≤ 0.05). B and C, Levels of MLL2 and SR-B1 expression in the control and MLL2 antisense-treated mouse liver. The liver tissues of the euthanized mice were subjected to RNA and protein. B, RNA was analyzed by RT-PCR with primers specific to MLL2 and SR-B1. C, The protein was analyzed by Western blotting using antibodies specific to MLL2 and SR-B1. D, Immunohistological staining of mouse liver showing the SR-B1 expression. The liver tissue of the sequentially perfused MLL2 antisense-treated and control mice was sectioned and subjected to immunohistological (diaminobenzidine) staining with SR-B1 antibody and examined under a light microscope.