Figure 2
Macrophage DNMT1 aggravates atherosclerosis development in an ApoE−/− mouse model.
(a) A structural diagram of the plasmid used for the macrophage-specific transgene of mouse DNMT1. The expression of DNMT1 was specifically driven by the human CD11b promoter. (b) Immunoblotting assay of DNMT1 expression in multiple tissues from wild-type (wt) or TgDNMT1 (tg) mice. Representative results are displayed. eFat, epididymal fat tissues. (c) Immunoblotting assay of DNMT1 in the bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) isolated from the ApoE−/− or macrophage DNMT1 transgenic (TgDNMT1) ApoE−/− mice. (d) Immunoblotting assay of DNMT1 in peritoneal macrophages (PMs) isolated from the ApoE−/− or macrophage DNMT1 transgenic (TgDNMT1) ApoE−/− mice. (e) Macrophage DNMT1 transgene does not affect body weight gain. The 6-week-old ApoE−/− or ApoE−/− + TgDNMT1 mice were fed a standard atherogenic diet (AD) and the body weight was recorded every two weeks (n = 10). (f) The plasma lipid levels of the ApoE−/− or ApoE−/− + TgDNMT1 mice, which were fed a standard AD for 12 weeks (n = 10). TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; PL, phospholipid; FC, free cholesterol; CE, cholesterol ester. (g) Representative cross-sectional image of the aortic sinus stained with Oil Red O. (h) Quantification of aortic lesion area (n = 5, *P < 0.05).
