Protein samples were prepared from whole cell extracts, separated by 10% SDS-PAGE, and electro-blotted onto PVDF membrane. Target proteins were visualized by using the ECL method (Amersham, Piscataway, NJ). Mouse anti-LOX-1 monoclonal antibody was kindly provided by Dr. Tatsuya Sawamura (National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Japan). Other primary and secondary antibodies were presented in Table 1. Densities of bands in Western blotting analyses were normalized with the internal invariable control. Levels of target protein bands were densitometrically determined by using Quantity One® 4.4.1 (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA). Variations in the density were expressed as fold changes compared to the control in the blot.