Figure 7. In vivo delivery of miR-146a mimetics reduces macrophage inflammatory responses, Ly-6C^high monocytosis and atherosclerosis in Ldlr^−/− mice fed a high fat diet.

Ldlr^−/− mice (~10 week old, n=9/group) were fed a high fat diet for 2 weeks, and then were injected with either 146a-m or NC-m via tail vein twice weekly for 6 weeks. MiR-146a levels (A), IRAK1, TRAF6 (B), and TNF-α mRNA in macrophages (C) as well as absolute numbers of blood Ly-6C^high monocytes (D) were examined as detailed in Figure 6. Representative oil red O staining (E) and MOMA-2 staining (F) of aortic root cross-sections from 146a-m or NC-m treated Ldlr^−/− mice; Scale bar, 200 μm in E, 50 μm in F. Aortic root lesion area (G), MOMA-2 macrophage area (H) and absolute cell number of aortic macrophages (I) in Ldlr^−/− mice receiving either 146a-m or NC-m were quantified as in Figure 6. *, P<0.05