Figure 5.

Reductions in miR34a Suppress Ang II-Induced AAA Formation

(A) miR34a levels after anti-miR34a virus infection of the suprarenal aortas of Ang II-infused ApoE^−/− mice (n = 4). (B) Representative photographs of the macroscopic features of AAAs in Ang II-infused ApoE^−/− mice. (C) Statistical analysis of AAA incidence in Ang II-infused ApoE^−/− mice. (D) Maximal aortic diameters in Ang II-infused ApoE^−/− mice. (E) Representative elastin staining and elastin degradation scores in suprarenal aortas from Ang II-infused ApoE^−/− mice. The magnified photographs were taken at the position where the most severe elastin degradation occurred (scale bars, 200 and 50 μm; magnified photographs). The data are presented as the medians and quartiles. ∗p < 0.05. (F) Representative immunostaining for MAC2 (scale bars, 200 and 50 μm) and corresponding densitometric analysis (n = 4). (G) Systolic blood pressure at baseline, and at 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days after Ang II infusion (n = 10 in each group). (H and I) Western blots (H) and densitometric analysis (I) of the protein expression of MMP2, MCP1, P21, and SIRT1 in Ang II-infused male ApoE^−/− mice (n = 4). (J) Representative in situ zymography photographs of MMP activity in Ang II-infused male ApoE^−/− mice (scale bars, 50 μm; n = 4). The data are presented as the mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01.