Figure 5.

Local inflammation of the aortic root was increased after administration of D. desulfuricans. Apoe^−/− mice were grouped and treated as in Figure 2. The expression of the inflammation-related proteins in atherosclerotic lesions was detected. (A) Serum LPS level and (B) mesenteric adipose tissue LPS level were measured with LAL assay. (C) Representative immunofluorescence staining for TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related protein P-p65. (D, E) Quantitative analysis of images from (C). Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8 per group). Significances among the 4 groups were determined by one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons with the Tukey honest significant difference. ns (no significance), P < 0.01 (∗∗), or P < 0.001 (∗∗∗). L: Lumen.