Figure 7: Nox4ApoE DKO mice lead to the protection against rFliC-mediated atherosclerosis.

(A) ApoE KO mice and Nox4ApoE DKO mice were fed with HFDs for 12 weeks and were injected intravenously every week with 25 μg of rFliC, ΔrFliC or saline. The aortas were dissected, Oil-Red-O stained, and pinned. (B) The percent of the en face aortic surface that contained lesions was measured using Image J. (N = 5 to 10, mean ± SEM. ***p < 0.001). (C) Sinus sections were obtained from ApoE KO or Nox4ApoE DKO mice fed high-fat diet for 12 weeks with or without rFliC injection. H&E staining (top 2 images) and masson’s trichrome staining (bottom image). Collagen contents (blue) and necrotic core size (i.e. area with almost complete loss of collagen) were measured using image J software. Scale bar = 250 μm. (D) Quantitative analysis of the plaque size, N = 5 to 10, mean ± SEM, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 (E) Quantitative analysis of necrotic core size, N = 5 to 10, mean ± SEM, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 (F) Quantitative analysis of collagen area, N = 5 to 10, mean ± SEM, *p < 0.05. (G) Quantification of collagen content in total lesion area, N = 5 to 10, mean ± SEM, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.