Fig. 5: Oral administration of live A. muciniphila rescues Psrc1 deficiency-mediated aggravated atherosclerosis and reduced IAA.
a The experimental design showing groups and durations. Eight-week-old male Psrc1+/+Apoe−/− and Psrc1−/−Apoe−/− mice fed a HFD for 12 weeks. Mice were orally gavaged with antibiotic cocktail for 2 weeks and subsequently with live A. muciniphila strain or heat-killed A. muciniphila or PBS for 4 weeks during the last 6 weeks. b Representative images of ORO staining and quantitative analysis of the atherosclerotic plaques area en face aorta (n = 10). c–e Representative photomicrograph of ORO (c), HE (d) and Masson’s trichrome (e) staining and quantification of lipid accumulation, atherosclerotic plaques area, necrotic core and collagen content in aortic roots (n = 10). Scale bar, 200 μm. f Immunofluorescence of aortic root cross-sections demonstrating staining α-SMA for smooth muscle cells and DAPI for nuclei (n = 6). Scale bar, 200 μm. g The plasma IAA levels were determined by ELISA (n = 10). h The relative mRNA levels of Cyp1a1 (to β-actin) in MPM isolated from mice were determined using RT–qPCR (n = 6). i Representative images of immunofluorescence staining of Ahr protein and DAPI for nuclei in MPM isolated from mice (n = 6). Scale bar, 50 μm. j Immunofluorescence of aortic root cross-sections demonstrating staining CD68 and Ahr to detect macrophage infiltration and Ahr in macrophages (n = 6). Scale bar, 200 μm. Data are presented as mean ± s.d. P values were determined by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test (b, c, d (top), e, f and j) or Tamhane’s T2 post hoc test (d (bottom), g and h).
