Figure 5.

TLR2 blockade inhibits macrophage apoptosis and CHOP expression in atherosclerotic lesions in the brachiocephalic artery. (A) TUNEL analysis showed reduced macrophage apoptosis in the plaques of ApoE^−/− mice treated with the TLR2ab and in ApoE^−/−Tlr2^−/− mice. The statistical analysis is shown in (B). Cleaved caspase-3 (C) and CHOP (D) expression in the aortas and the co-localization of macrophages (Mac-3) and CHOP (E) in advanced plaques were evaluated for the four sample groups. The scale bars represent 37.5 μm. The data are shown as the mean±SEM (n=6 mice/group). ^bP<0.05 vs the saline-treated group.