Figure 3.

IKKε deficiency attenuates MMP production. Double staining for (a) MMP 2 red and α-SMA green or (b) MMP9 red and α-SMA green in aortic sections from mice in the indicated groups after 4 weeks of infusion. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI blue. Quantification is shown in the right panel, n = 4‐5, respectively. (c) MMP expression in abdominal aortic protein lysates by ELISA, n = 4‐5, respectively. (d) MMP activity in abdominal aortic protein lysates by gelatin zymography. Quantification is shown in the right panel, n = 4‐5, respectively. (e) The fresh-frozen sections were analyzed by in situ zymography with DQ gelatin to detect the gelatinolytic activity of MMPs. Quantification is shown in the right panel. n = 4‐5, respectively. ^∗P < 0.05 vs. Apoe^−/−IKKε^−/− mice. ^∗∗P < 0.01 vs. Apoe^−/−IKKε^−/− mice. ^∗∗∗P < 0.001 vs. Apoe^−/−IKKε^−/− mice.