Journal: Bioactive Materials
Article Title: Apolipoprotein E knockout attenuates vascular graft fibrosis by reducing profibrotic macrophage formation through low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1
doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.01.029
Figure Lengend Snippet: Downregulation of APOE by AAV ameliorating fibrosis during vascular regeneration after graft implantation in vivo . (a) Illustration of a strategy of adventitial delivery of AAV-shRNA(Apoe) to inhibit APOE levels in regenerated aortas after graft implantation in vivo . Two weeks after graft implantation in vivo , AAV-shRNA(Apoe) were injected into the adventitia of the regenerated aortas, which were then harvested for analysis three weeks later. (b) M mode images of ultrasound detection of regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. Arrow heads indicate movement of vascular walls. (c) Tensile tests of regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. (d) Quantification of RI, PI, and compliance of regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. ∗∗ indicates p < 0.01, Tukey's post-hoc test. For each group, six different images from six different animals were analyzed (n = 6). (e) Quantification of elastic modulus of regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. ∗∗ indicates p < 0.01, Tukey's post-hoc test. For each group, six different images from six different animals were analyzed (n = 6). (f) H&E, MTC and EVG staining of regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. (g) Immunofluorescence staining of COL I, COL III, elastin, αSMA, and eNOS in regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. L indicates lumens. Arrow heads indicate capillaries. Quantification of adventitia thickness (h), collagen positive areas according to MTC staining (i), elastin positive areas according to EVG staining (j), COL I positive areas (k), COL III positive areas (l), and number of capillaries (m) in adventitial areas of regenerated aortas. (n) Immunofluorescence staining of CTSD and CD68 in regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks. (o) CD68 and CTSD double positive cells in regenerated aortas. ∗∗ indicates p < 0.01, Tukey's post-hoc test. For each group, six different samples from six different animals were analyzed (n = 6). (p) WB results of APOE, CTSD and SPP1 levels in regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks and quantification of levels of APOE, CTSD and SPP1 in regenerated aortas. ∗∗ indicates p < 0.01, Tukey's post-hoc test. For each group, six different samples from six different animals were analyzed (n = 6). (q) Quantification of IGF-1 concentrations in regenerated aortas treated with PBS, AAV-shRNA(NC), and AAV-shRNA(Apoe) for 3 weeks by ELISA. ∗∗ indicates p < 0.01, Tukey's post-hoc test. For each group, six different samples from six different animals were analyzed (n = 3).
Article Snippet: Exogenous APOE (0.25 μg/mL, MCE, HY-P701096), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL, MCE, HY-P7117), IGF-1 (10 ng/mL, MCE), conditioned medium by macrophages, or IGF-1 blocking antibody (1 μg/mL, Invitrogen, MA5-18035) was added into culture medium and incubated with WT or APOE KO fibroblasts for 24 h.
Techniques: In Vivo, shRNA, Injection, Staining, Immunofluorescence, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay