Effects of nasal heat shock protein (HSP)60 on the relative mRNA expression of regulatory T cell markers and inflammatory markers in atherosclerotic plaques. (a,b) Total RNA was extracted from the aortas of 16‐ and 24‐week‐old phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS)‐ or HSP60‐treated mice. mRNA expression of regulatory T cell markers [transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β, CD25, forkhead box transcription factor (FoxP3) and glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP)] and inflammatory markers interferon (IFN)‐γ, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)‐1 was determined quantitatively by real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Fold‐change relative to PBS‐treated mice is shown. *P < 0·05, **P < 0·01. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (s.e.m.) and are representative of at least three independent experiments.