Files in this Data Supplement:

• Table I - (Word) (40 KB)
• Table II - (Word) (48 KB)
• Table III - (Word) (52 KB)
• Table IV - (Word) (47 KB)
• Figure I - (TIFF) (525 KB) Schematic illustration of the rabbit coronary artery anatomy (A) and method of sectioning for the examination of coronary atherosclerosis (B). The heart is sectioned into seven blocks according to the report by Podesser et al.⁴¹ and the coronary arterial lesions in each segment are measured and combined as the right and left coronary total lesions as reported by Shiomi.⁴²
• Figure II - (TIFF) (2.65 MB) Plasma cholesterol levels (A), histological features of the lesions (B), and quantitation of macrophages and SMCs in the lesions (C) of the first group of rabbits with "lower" hypercholesterolemia. There was no significant difference between Tg and non-Tg rabbits in terms of cholesterol levels and lesion size. Data are expressed as mean±SE (n= 14 for non-Tg and 13 for Tg rabbits).
• Figure III - (TIFF) (1.05 MB) Lipoprotein profiles and apolipoprotein distribution of the second group of rabbits. Density gradient fractions were isolated from rabbits by ultracentrifugation and total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured as described (A). The combined recovery of cholesterol from each animal averaged ≈80% of the total plasma level. Data are expressed as meanąSE (n=4 for each group). Lipoproteins were resolved by electrophoresis in a 1% agaose gel and visualized with Fat Red 7B staining and apolipoproteins were detected by immunoblotting with specific Abs against apoB, apoE and apoAI.
• Figure IV - (TIFF) (27.1 KB) Quantitative analysis of macrophages and SMCs in coronary arteries. Coronary left main trunks were immunohistochemically stained for macrophage and SMC. Immunohistochemical staining specimens were quantititated for staining intensity as described in Methods. Data are expressed as mean±SE (n=6 for each group) and there is no significant difference between Tg and non-Tg rabbits.
• Figure V - (TIFF) (2.71 MB) Comparison of the lesional MMPs distribution. Serial frozen sections of a Tg rabbit aortic arch were stained with H&E, or immunostained with mAbs against macrophages, MMP-12, -1, -2, and TIMP-2. The lesions are composed of macrophages, many of which are colocalized with MMP-12. MMP-1 is mainly present on the surface whereas MMP-2 is diffusely distributed in both intima and media. TIMP-2 is weakly stained.
• Figure VI - (TIFF) (694 KB) Demonstration of MMP-12 immuno-reactive proteins in the macrophage-rich area of an unstable plaque of huma coronary arteries.
• Figure VII - (TIFF) (56 KB) Effects of LDLs on MMP-12 expression. LDLs were isolated from healthy volunteers and prepared as described before.⁴³ U937 cells-derived macrophages²⁵ were treated with different-doses of either native LDL or oxidized LDL at 37°C for 48 h. Expression levels of MMP-12 are expressed as percentage of control. Experiments were performed three times and representative data are shown (n=3). GM-CSF treatment was used as a positive control.