Fig. 4.

Downregulation of mRNAs encoding contractile proteins, transcription factors, and signaling molecules following injury. RNA was isolated from carotid arteries at 3 days following carotid ligation injury or from control uninjured mice and analyzed by qRT-PCR as described in Fig. 1. A: smooth muscle contractile proteins. Myh11, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain; Tagln, SM22α; Cnn1, calponin 1; Acta2, smooth muscle α-actin; Actg2, smooth muscle γ-actin; Mylk1, smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase. B: signaling molecules. C: transcription factors. n = 3–5 *P < 0.05 NS, nonsurgical control; 3D control, contralateral control carotid; 3D injured, ligated carotid 3 days following ligation.