Extended Data Fig. 4. MI exacerbates plaque vulnerability and stroke leads to more cellular inflammation.

Representative microphotographs of H&E a., SMA b., Picro-Sirius red c., fibrous cap thickness analysis d. and CD68 e. staining in CCA sections 1 w after sham or myocardial infarction (MI) surgery (scale bar = 50 µm). Area between two dotted lines indicate intima area. Green dotted line represents necrotic core area. Corresponding quantification of necrotic core area, SMA, collagen and CD68 area 1w after sham or MI operated mice (quantification were performed as described in Extended Data Fig. 3, U test, n = 5–6 per group). f. Representative gating strategy for flow cytometry analysis of whole CCA cell suspensions 24 h after sham or stroke surgery. g. Flow cytometry analysis of CCA cell suspensions showing total leukocytes (CD45⁺), monocytes (CD11b⁺), proinflammatory subset (Ly6C^high CCR2⁺) and macrophages (F4/80⁺ MHCII⁺) cell counts after experimental stroke compared to sham (U test, n = 7–8 per group).