Fig. 6. β-Arrestin-2 mediates the pathological activation of the AT1 receptor aggravated by COMP deficiency.

a Representative images of the aortic morphology in COMP^–/– or COMP^–/–β-arrestin-2^–/– mice infused with AngII (1000 ng/kg/min) for 28 days. b Incidence of AngII-induced AAA (COMP^–/–: 10/11; COMP^–/–β-arrestin-2^–/–: 0/7). *P < 0.05 by χ² test. c The maximal abdominal aortic diameters. COMP^–/– + AngII, n = 11; COMP^–/–β-arrestin-2^–/– + AngII, n = 7. *P < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney test. d Representative images of VVG staining and quantification of elastin degradation. COMP^–/– + AngII, n = 10; COMP^–/–β-arrestin-2^–/– + AngII, n = 6. *P < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney test. Scale bar, 50 μm.