Figure 5.

Evaluation of atherosclerotic manifestations. (a) Larger aortic lesions were seen in mice treated with pravastatin or L-4F or L-4F plus pravastatin when compared to vehicle controls (0.28 ± 0.11 and 0.27 ± 0.13 and 0.37 ± 0.13 μm² vs. 0.19 ± 0.10 μm², respectively). (b) Aortic lesions from L-4F plus pravastatin treated mice had significantly decreased macrophage infiltration when compared to vehicle controls (6.2 ± 1.2 vs. 9.8 ± 0.8%, respectively; P = 0.006). In addition, increased smooth muscle content in combination treatment mice compared to vehicle controls (7.8 ± 0.5% vs. 4.9 ± 2.3%, respectively; P = 0.04) suggests possible plaque remodeling. CD4⁺ T cell levels appeared unaltered by treatment. (c) Ten micrometer aortic root sections from female mice were stained for macrophage infiltration (CD68; rat anti-mouse CD68) and smooth muscle cells (SM, rat anti-mouse α-smooth muscle actin). Bar = 1 mm.