Expression of proteins downstream of KLF4 is reduced in VSMC from Noxa1SMC-/- versus wild-type mice and in atherosclerotic lesions from Noxa1SMC-/- /Apoe-/- versus Apoe-/- mice. A, Real time PCR analysis of Vcam1, Ccl2, and Mmp2 mRNA expression levels in VSMC treated with POVPC for 24 h. B-D, Representative immunofluorescence images and quantification of aortic root sections stained for VCAM1 (B), CCL2 (C) and MMP2 (D) (red), costained for SM-α-actin (green), and with DAPI (blue). Data presented as integrated density of fluorescence per number of cells (mean±SEM, n = 4). Scale is 100 µm.