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. 2017 Oct 12;12(10):e0186426. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186426

Fig 2. A working hypothesis and the experimental model.

Fig 2

(A) Based on existing evidence from our animal model, we postulated that upregulated activity of endothelial TNAP can increase intimal calcification prior to development of atherosclerosis; “primary” calcified lesions in the intima can serve as focal points for lipid deposition or “secondary” atherosclerosis by increasing endothelial roughness. This type of accelerated lipid deposition might take place in coronary arteries of WHC-eTNAP mice that are rendered hypercholesterolemic by an atherogenic diet. Components of the model that are being tested in this study are highlighted in blue. (B) AP activity staining in the hearts of WHC and WHC-eTNAP mice and detection of vascular calcification in WHC-eTNAP mice at baseline (8 weeks of age) in coronary arteries prior to induction of hypercholesterolemia.