Fig. 6: Macrophage fosters NETs formation via CXCL3/CXCR2 axis.

A Schematic overview of experimental design. Mice received intraperitoneal injection of IgG anti-body, anti-CXCL3 anti-body (2 mg/kg), and anti-CXCR2 anti-body (2 mg/kg) at a fixed time once a day until death or the end point of the experiment. B The incidence of AD and aortic rupture in each group (n = 12). Comparisons by Fisher’s exact test indicating aortic rupture rate difference among groups (p = 0.0045; p = 0.0137; p = 0.2174; p = 0.4783). C Mice death due to aortic rupture of each indicated group (p = 0.0408 for anti-CXCR2 vs BAPN). D–F The average of max diameter (D) (p = 0.0065 for anti-CXCL3 vs Ctrl), aortic wall thickness (E) (p = 0.0012 for BAPN vs Ctrl; p = 0.0284 for IgG vs Ctrl), and aortic media thickness (F) in each group. G Elastin degradation grading evaluation of each aorta (p = 0.0423 for anti-CXCL3 vs BAPN; p = 0.0318 for anti-CXCR2 vs BAPN). H Representative macrographs of aortas in each group. Scale bar = 20 mm. I Representative immunohistochemistry images showing aortic dilation, false lumen formation, and elastin degradation within aortas in each group. Scale bar = 100 μm. J Representative immunofluorescence images showing NETs formation within aortas of mice. Scale bar = 100 μm. K Immunofluorescence quantification of NETs markers among each group (CitH3: p = 0.0025 for anti-CXCL3 vs BAPN; p = 0.0044 for anti-CXCR2 vs BAPN; Ly6G: p = 0.0025 for anti-CXCL3 vs BAPN; p = 0.0043 for anti-CXCR2 vs BAPN). L Immunofluorescence quantification of NETs markers within aortas with four elastin degradation grades (CitH3: p = 0.0489 for grade 2 vs grade 1; p = 0.0012 for grade 3 vs grade 1; p = 0.0473 for grade 4 vs grade 1; Ly6G: p = 0.0537 for grade 2 vs grade 1; p = 0.0425 for grade 3 vs grade 1; p = 0.0414 for grade 4 vs grade 1). Values are expressed as means ± SD. A two-sided statistical significance was set at *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 by Mann–Whitney U test.