Figure 2.

TLR4-mediated inflammation is required in atherosclerotic plaque formation. (a) Hematoxylin and eosin staining on cross-sections from representative aortas are presented. HF diet significantly induced atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE^−/− mice. ApoE/TLR4^−/− mice only displayed intimal hyperplasia in response to HF diet. RSG inhibited the HF diet-induced atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE^−/− mice but not in ApoE/TLR4^−/− mice. (b and c) Expression of TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) in aortas were detected by western blot and ELISA. HF diet induced TLR4 expression, and elevated the level of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in ApoE^−/− mice but not in ApoE/TLR4^−/− mice (*P<0.05 versus ApoE^−/− mice with NC diet). Results were presented as mean±S.D. (error bars) of three independent experiments