Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Interleukin-11 is important for vascular smooth muscle phenotypic switching and aortic inflammation, fibrosis and remodeling in mouse models

Figure 4

Smooth muscle cell-restricted IL11 expression induces molecular changes of aortic remodeling. (a) RT-qPCR of Il11 mRNA expression normalized to Gapdh expression in aortas of Il11-Tg and control mice (n = 5/group). Representative immunoblots for aortic expression of (b) IL11, ACTA2, COL3A1 and GAPDH protein and (c) phosphorylated (p) and total ERK1/2 protein expression in Il11-Tg mice as compared with controls (n = 3/group). Collated densitometry for IL11, ACTA2 and COL3A1 normalized to GAPDH and p-ERK1/2 was normalized to total ERK1/2 protein expression. Samples were derived from the same experiment and blots were processed in parallel. Extended blots are presented in Supplementary Fig. S13 online. Data expressed in mean ± SD. RT-qPCR of (d) contractile genes (Acta2*, Cnn1, Myh11, Myocd, and Tagln), (e) ECM genes (Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1*, Fn1, Mmp2, and Timp1), and (f) inflammatory genes (Il6, Tnf*, Ccl2 and Ccl5*) normalized to Gapdh expression in aortas of Il11-Tg and control mice (n = 4–5/group). Statistical analyses by unpaired t-test unless data deviated from normal, in which case a Mann-Whitey test was performed (denoted by *). Data presented as median ± IQR, whiskers define the minimum and maximum values.

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