Figure 1. Inflammatory cells in the aortic vessel wall.

Immunohistochemical staining (positive area/total aortic wall area) for leukocytes (A; CD45) and macrophages (B; Mac3) revealed that placebo-treated Marfan mice contained significantly more leukocytes and macrophages in the aortic wall as compared to wildtype mice. Losartan significantly reduced both leukocyte and macrophage influx. While methylprednisolone revealed a trend in decreased leukocytes (* p = 0.050), abatacept did not. Yet, all drugs significantly decreased the macrophage influx. Each group of mice comprises 11 mice, except Marfan placebo with n = 12, with equal male/female distribution.