At 4 weeks post-surgery, the difference in AIF-1+ macrophages between the TAC-operated groups was minimal (Supplementary Fig. 5c), most likely as the overall levels of AIF-1+ macrophages, or indeed total CD11b+ innate immune cells (Fig. 1) in TAC-operated mice is reduced at this late stage of the pathology. This evidence concerns the gene ITGAM and persistent truncus arteriosus.