Figure 4
From: Development of a two-stage limb ischemia model to better simulate human peripheral artery disease
Comparison of protein and gene expression within the gastrocnemius muscles of mice undergoing the 1-stage and 2-stage HLI. (A) Representative Western blot images showing the expression levels of various proteins within the gastrocnemius muscles of mice undergoing Hind limb ischemia (HLI). (B) Quantitative graph showing that total Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels were significantly downregulated in the 2-stage HLI model compared to sham controls and the 1-stage HLI model. (C) Quantitative graph showing no change in expression of Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1 in response to HLI. (D) Quantitative graph showing reduced expression of VEGFR-2 in the 2-stage HLI model compared to the 1-stage model. (E–F) Quantitative graph showing that the fluid shear stress responder proteins Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 4 (TRPV4) (E) and Kruppel Like Factor 4 (KLF4) (F) were both significantly downregulated in the 2-stage model compared to sham controls and the 1-stage model. Data expressed as median and interquartile ranges with maximum and minimum data points (whiskers) and compared by Mann-Whitney U test (n = 6–8/group). (G–J) Relative gene expressions of Vegf-R1 (G), Vegf-R2 (H), Trpv4 (I) and Klf4 (J) assessed in the gastrocnemius muscles of mice undergoing HLI. Quantitative real time PCR (QRT PCR) was performed on extracted total mRNA using specific primers and normalised to glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) expression. Data analysed by Mann-Whitney U test (n = 10 samples/group).
