Table 2 Metabolic, immunological, hemostatic, and proteolytic characteristics of 48-wk-old male mice

Plasma proteins and lipids

Plasma protein (g/dL)

5.14 ± 0.12

12

4.79 ± 0.17

12

Total cholesterol (mM)

12.3 ± 0.5

7

7.9 ± 1.5^a

9

Triglycerides (mg/dL)

1.4 ± 0.1

10

1.4 ± 0.1

10

Immune system status at baseline

Total IgG_2a (AU)

0.810 ± 0.070

6

1.208 ± 0.046^c

6

Total IgG₁ (AU)

0.530 ± 0.023

6

0.556 ± 0.051

6

IL-12 (pg/mL)

65 ± 11

6

1826 ± 1654^c

6

IFNγ (pg/mL)

223 ± 10

6

272 ± 12^a

6

Immune response to antigenic challenge (HSA)

Anti-HSA IgG_2a (AU)

3.71 ± 0.34

9

4.86 ± 0.19^c

9

Anti-HSA IgG₁(AU)

4.76 ± 0.25

9

3.28 ± 0.34^b

9

CD4⁺ IFNγ⁺ (%)

5 ± 2

9

17 ± 4^a

9

CD4⁺ IL-4⁺ (%)

10 ± 2

9

9 ± 3

9

Coagulation factors

Plasma prothrombin F₁₊₂ (nM)

0.13 ± 0.01

8

0.30 ± 0.08^b

10

Plasma tissue factor (mU/mg protein)

3.99 ± 1.40

8

2.75 ± 1.75

10

Aortic tissue factor (U/mg protein)

3.1 ± 0.4

8

6.0 ± 1.0^a

10

Spleen MNC tissue factor (mU/mg protein)

2.78 ± 0.36

8

2.19 ± 0.22

10

Thrombosed coronary arteries (%)

Left ventricle portion (n° vessels)

Base (2.7 ± 0.3)

20.0 ± 8.1

10

70.0 ± 8.2^b

10

Middle-high (6.8 ± 0.4)

13.3 ± 4.5

10

54.2 ± 6.3^b

10

Middle-low (11.2 ± 0.6)

28.9 ± 3.1

10

54.2 ± 6.1^b

10

Apex (7.8 ± 0.5)

5.3 ± 3.3

10

35.5 ± 5.9^b

10

Proteolysis

MMP9 distribution (shoulder/total plaque)

0.53 ± 0.06

8

0.76 ± 0.07^b

10

Aortic pro-MMP9 activity (AU/mg protein)

1708 ± 466

8

4374 ± 1141^a

10

Spleen MNC pro-MMP9 activity (10³ AU/10⁷ cells)

141 ± 13

8

1097 ± 97^a

10

Aortic pro-MMP2 activity (AU/mg protein)

7331 ± 516

8

7142 ± 442

10

Aortic MMP2 activity (AU/mg protein)

1937 ± 193

8

1688 ± 178

10