Fig. 2

Loss of CRP2 reduces aortic elastin degradation and MMP activity. A Mice were infused with saline or Ang II for 4 weeks and abdominal aortas harvested for histological analysis. Upper panels, elastin staining of aneurysmal segments from Apoe^−/− and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− mice. Lower panels, higher magnification of the boxed areas from top row, respectively. White arrows indicate disrupted elastin fibers. B Quantitation of elastin degradation from Apoe^−/− mice infused with saline (n = 6) or Ang II (n = 12) and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− mice infused with saline (n = 6) or Ang II (n = 12). §P < 0.05 compared with the respective saline group; *P < 0.05 compared with the corresponding Ang II-treated Apoe^−/− group. C Mice were infused with Ang II for 2 weeks and DHE staining was performed to assess ROS level. D MMP activity (green fluorescence) was measured by in situ zymography from Apoe^−/− or Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− mice infused with Ang II for 2 weeks. E Primary Apoe^−/− and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− VSMCs were stimulated with different concentrations of Ang II for 24 h and conditioned medium collected for zymography to examine MMP2 MMP2 and MMP9 activity. A representative zymography is shown in the upper panel. Quantitative analysis of MMP2 activity is shown in the lower panel (n = 4 each group). §P < 0.05 compared with the baseline without Ang II; *P < 0.05 compared with the corresponding Apoe^−/− group