Fig. 2: Nrg4 deficiency is associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation in AKO mice.
AKO and DKO mice aged 6 weeks were fed a WD for 12 weeks (6 mice in each group). a,b, The vasodilatation reaction induced by Ach (a) and SNP (b) (n = 4). c, Representative images of en face atherosclerotic lesions. d, Quantitative analysis of c (n = 6). e, Representative images of the cross-sectional area of the aortic root (n = 6). Scale bars, 200 μm. f, Quantitative analysis of e. g, Representative immunohistochemical staining images of VSMCs (α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)), collagen (Masson), macrophages (anti-CD68) and T lymphocytes (anti-CD3) in aortic plaques. Scale bar, 20 μm. h, Quantitative analysis of g (n = 6). I, Representative hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining images of plaque. Dashed lines indicate the contour of necrotic lipid core; scale bars, 50 μm. j, The quantitative analysis of necrotic core and fibrous cap thickness. The necrotic core is presented as a percentage of lesion area and the fibrous cap thickness is measured at the midpoint and shoulder regions of each lesion and quantified as the ratio of cap thickness to lesion size (n = 6). AU, arbitrary units. k, The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 in mice aortic tissue. l, Quantitative analysis of k (n = 6). m, The mRNA levels of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) in MAECs of mice (n = 6). Statistical significance was calculated using two-sided Student’s t-tests. The data are presented as mean ± s.e.m. *P < 0.05; #P < 0.01.
