Fig. 3

Absence of CRP2 reduces Ang II-induced MMP2 expression. A Protein extracts were prepared from Apoe^−/− and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− aortas and subjectd to Western blot analysis to detect MMP2, MMP9, and CRP2 expression. The blots were subsequently hybridized with actin as a loading control. B Mice were infused with saline or Ang II for 2 weeks and abdominal aortas harvested for MMP2 immunohistochemistry. Lu, lumen. C MMP2 immunostaining of aneurysmal sections from Apoe^−/− (n = 8) and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− (n = 8) mice infused with Ang II for 2 weeks. AA, aortic aneurysm; Med, media; Lu, lumen. Lower panels, higher magnification of the left and right boxed areas in the upper panels, respectively. D Quantification of MMP2-positive area in saline (n = 6 each group) and Ang II-infused (n = 8 each group) aortas. §P < 0.05 compared with the respective saline; *P < 0.05 compared with the corresponding Apoe^−/− group. E Apoe^−/− and Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− VSMCs were stimulated with different concentrations of Ang II for 24 h and total proteins prepared for Western blot analysis to detect expression of MMP2, MMP9, and CRP2. The blots were subsequently hybridized with α-tubulin as a loading control. F Quantitation of MMP2 expression (n = 4 for Apoe^−/− and n = 3 for Csrp2^−/−Apoe^−/− at each Ang II concentration). MMP2 levels in Apoe^−/− VSMCs without Ang II treatment was set as 100%. §P < 0.05 compared with the baseline without Ang II; *P < 0.05 compared with the corresponding Apoe^−/− group