Figure 1.

Simultaneous treatment of rAAV8-PCSK9 virus and Streptozotocin induces a hyperlipidemic and hyperglycemic mouse phenotype. (A) Schematic summary of the experimental setup. Mice were analyzed after 12 or 20 weeks of interventions initiation. Wild type mice without rAAV8-PCSK9^D377Y injection on high-fat diet (HFD, 21% fat, 0.21% cholesterol) was used as control. Mice injected with rAAV8-PCSK9^D377Y and fed a HFD are termed HCi HFD (hyperlipidemic), or injected with both rAAV8-PCSK9^D377Y and streptozotocin and fed a HFD are termed HGHCi HFD (hyperlipidemic and hyperglycemic). LDLR KO mice on HFD served as atherosclerosis reference control. (B) Representative immunoblot of liver lysate showing hepatic protein levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). β-actin was used as loading control. (C) Densitometric analysis of LDLR immunoblot was normalized on β-actin and referred to control HFD group which is set at 1. Bar graphs are showing level of (D) plasma cholesterol level [mg/dL], (E) blood glucose levels [mg/dL] and (F) Triglycerides [mg/dL]. Data are presented as mean ± SEM and two-way ANOVA was performed with Sidak's multiple comparison post-hoc test (*p < 0.05). N = 6 for each group.