Figure 1

Delivery of hSMAD3 and dietary effects. A. Relative expression of the hSMAD3 gene to βactin by real-time quantitative PCR from aorta of 3 mice in each group. For qRT-PCR the quantity of RNA for each gene was normalized to βactin in the same sample. Data shown are mean +/- SE. B. shows a western blot analysis of protein from liver probed with anti-SMAD3 antibody. Note that both A and B show increased SMAD3 levels in the AAV/hSMAD3-treated animals. C. shows the levels of total cholesterol. Note that a HCD did result in increased cholesterol.