Figure 1. Increased MAP4K4 expression in atherosclerosis.

(a) Eight-to-ten-week-old mice were fed chow or 60% HFD for 16 weeks, messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from the indicated tissues, and quantitative RT–PCR was performed for Map4k4 and normalized to 36b4. The data represent the mean±s.e.m. (*P<0.05, **P<0.005, N=3–7). (b–d) Aortas were extracted from age-matched chow-fed wild-type or Apoe^−/− mice or WD-fed Apoe^−/− mice. (b) Immune-complex kinase assays were performed in Map4k4 immunoprecipitates using MBP as an exogenous substrate. Lysates were immunoblotted for tubulin as a loading control. (c) Densitometric quantification of ³²P MBP as normalized to tubulin. (d) Densitometric quantification of immunoprecipitated Map4k4 as normalized to tubulin (analysis of variance ⁺P=0.05, *P<0.05, N=4–5). (e) mRNA was isolated from normal human arteries or atherosclerotic plaques, and quantitative RT–PCR was performed for MAP4K4 or GAPDH (*P<0.05, N=3–5).