Fig. 7. MMP treatment using BB94 significantly increases SMC number in aortic arch of Lmna^G609G/G609G mice.

a Schematic representation of the animal protocol. Lmna^G609G/G609G mice (n = 8 for treatment group and control group; age: 5 weeks) were IP injected five times a week (30 mg/kg/day; 3 mg/mL in PBS). b Immunofluorescence analyses performed on mouse SMC for α-SMA showing higher number of SMCs in treated aortic arch. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI. SMCs were stained for α-SMA. Scale bar is 100 µm. For BB94 treatment n = 5 animals. For placebo treatment n = 7 animals. c Heart rates in mice. Wild-type mice were not exposed to BB94. n = 3 for wild-type mice, n = 8 for placebo treatment group and n = 7 for BB94 treatment group. d Number of SMC nuclei in aortic arch per tissue area (mm²) in mice treated or not with BB94. For BB94 treatment, n > 6 images examined over five animals. For placebo treatment, n > 9 images examined over seven animals. e Expression of SMC genes in aortic arches of mice treated or not with BB94. Gene expression was normalized by the housekeeping gene GAPDH. n > 3 technical replicates over six animals. **, ***, **** denote statistical significance (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.0001). Statistical analyses were performed by a two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test d and e.