Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9

Fig.1 Detection of human PCSK9 expression in serum of homozygous Apoe-KO/hPCSK9 knockin mice by ELISA (n=5, 8 weeks old). 

Western diet conditions:

Fig.2 Body weight change of Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice under WD conditions. Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice exhibited significantly lower body weight gain compared to hPCSK9 mice. Male, 7-week-old WT C57BL/6 mice, HO hPCSK9 mice and HO/HO Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice were maintained on WD (Dyets, ASHF3). (A) Body weight and (B) body weight change were recorded weekly (n=6-8 per group, Mean ± SEM, T-test, G2 vs G3: *p＜0.05; ***p＜0.001).

Abbr. WT, wild-type; HO, homozygous; WD, Western diet.

Fig.3 Blood lipid profiles of Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice under WD conditions. Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice exhibited significantly elevated levels of TG, T-CHO, and LDL-C, along with decreased levels of HDL-C, compared to hPCSK9 mice. Male, 7-week-old WT C57BL/6 mice, HO hPCSK9 mice and HO/HO Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice were maintained on WD. Serum samples were collected following a 6-hour fast to measure levels of (A) triglycerides (TG), (B) total cholesterol (T-CHO), (C) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and (D) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (n=6-8, Mean ± SEM, T-test, G2 vs G3: *p＜0.05; **p＜0.01; ***p＜0.0001). 

Abbr. WT, wild-type; HO, homozygous; WD, Western diet.

Fig.4 Oil Red O staining of aortic valves of Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice under WD conditions. Male, 7-week-old WT C57BL/6 mice, HO hPCSK9 mice and HO/HO Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice were maintained on WD. Tissues were collected at 16 weeks of age for the detection of lipid accumulation in aortic valves (n=5/group). 

Abbr. WT, wild-type; HO, homozygous; WD, western diet.

Fig.5 Oil Red O staining of aortas of Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice under WD conditions. After 9 weeks of WD feeding, Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice showed significant lipid accumulation near the aortic arch. Male, 7-week-old WT C57BL/6 mice, HO hPCSK9 mice and HO/HO Apoe-KO(2)/hPCSK9 mice were maintained on WD. Tissues were collected at 16 weeks of age for the detection of lipid accumulation in aortas (n=5/group). 

Abbr. WT, wild-type; HO, homozygous; WD, western diet.