Figure 3.

Evidence for enhancement of features associated with plaque stability by anti-CD40L antibody treatment. Photomicrographs of tissue sections of mouse aortic arches as shown in Fig. 2 were analyzed by computer-assisted image quantification. The percent positive area using staining for CD68 (macrophages, MØ), lipids, α-actin (SMCs), or collagen was determined within the area extending 3 mm distal from the right carotid. Data are mean ± SD for mice that consumed high-cholesterol diet for 13 weeks (diet alone, white bars), or 26 weeks with application of either irrelevant rat IgG (light gray bars), saline (dark gray bars), or anti-CD40L antibody (black bars) during the last 13 weeks. Calculation of percent positive areas was performed independently by two blinded observers, and comparison between the respective study groups used Student's t test.