GPNMB and persistent truncus arteriosus: Although the plasma GPNMB levels in the TAC model compared with the sham surgery group at 4 weeks after surgery were not statistically significantly different due to small sample sizes, there was a trend toward decreased GPNMB levels in the TAC mice (4.19 ± 2.33 ng/mL in Sham vs. 2.22 ± 1.80 ng/ml in TAC, p-value = 0.13) (Figure 2F).