Figure 4. Targeted silencing of miR-33 does not influence macrophage and smooth muscle cell content in atherosclerotic lesions.

Low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr^−/−) mice were placed on a western diet (WD) for 3 months, and then switched to a chow diet and received anti-miR-33 peptide nucleic acid delivery vector (anti-miR33^pHLIP) or scrambled control (Scr^pHLIP) at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight every week for a total of 5 injections. Representative immunofluorescence staining of macrophage (CD68 positive) and smooth muscle cell (α-smooth muscle actin) in cross sections of the aortic root from Ldlr^−/− mice injected with anti-miR33^pHLIP or Scr^pHLIP vectors. Quantification of macrophage and smooth muscle cell content are shown in the right panel and represent the mean ± SEM (n=8 in Baseline, n=12 in Scr^pHLIP and n=13 in anti-miR-33^pHLIP group). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Scale bar: 100 μm.