Figure 2.

IL-33 treatment reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and macrophage and T cell accumulation in the aortic sinus of ApoE^−/− mice. ApoE^−/− mice were treated with PBS (open bars) or IL-33 (filled bars). (A) Plaque size (intimal area, mm²) in the aortic sinus (n = 12–15). (B) Representative photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin–stained aortic sections. (C) Quantification of plaque content: F4/80⁺ macrophages (percentage of total plaque area; n = 11–12), T cells (number of CD3⁺ T cells/millimeter², n = 10–11), SMCs (percentage of total plaque area, n = 9–10), and collagen (percentage of total plaque area, n = 9–10). Data are the mean ± the SEM. (D) Representative photomicrographs of F4/80⁺ macrophages (brown), CD3⁺ T cells (brown), α-smooth muscle actin (brown), and collagen (blue) staining in plaques of ApoE^−/− mice treated with PBS or IL-33. Data shown are from two independent experiments. *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001, Student's unpaired t test. Bars: (B) 400 μm; (D; F4/80⁺ macrophages) 25 μm; (D; CD3⁺ T cells) 25 μm; (D; α-smooth muscle actin) 100 μm; (D; collagen) 100 μm.