Figure 5.

LOX transgenesis limits VSMC proliferation and vascular remodeling. (A) Immunocytochemical analysis of LOX and PCNA, markers of cell proliferation, in aortic VSMC from TgLOX^VSMC and WT mice. (B) Collagen type-I deposition (in red) by VSMC from TgLOX^VSMC and WT mice visualized by confocal immunofluorescence in nonpermeabilized cells, as described [39]. Cells were incubated with a COL1A1 specific antibody (NB600-408; Novus Biologicals, UK) and nuclei were stained with DAPI. As observed, LOX transgenesis induces the deposition of a thicker and more organized collagen network (Bar: 25 µm). (C) TgLOX^VSMC and WT mice were subjected to left common carotid artery ligation. Injured arteries were harvested 21 days after surgery, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and embedded in paraffin. Cross-sections at 1.5 mm from the ligation site were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as described [62,63]. This staining evidenced that LOX overexpression reduces neointimal growth (Bar: 100 µm).