Thus, normoinsulinemic obese BATIRKO mice with lower UCP-2 levels in the aorta showed endothelial dysfunction (Additional file 2: Figure S2A), higher vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin II or TXA2 (Additional file 2: Figure S2B), higher lipid depots (Figure 3B), higher lesion area and macrophage infiltration in aortic roots (Additional file 2: Figure S2C) as compared with moderate hyperinsulinemic BATIRKO mice. This evidence concerns the gene UCP2 and endothelial dysfunction.