FIGURE 2.

Progesterone increases macrophage surface CD36 protein levels and enhances cellular oxLDL accumulation in a CD36-dependent manner. A, peritoneal macrophages isolated from female C57BL/6 mice were treated with 100 nm progesterone overnight. After washing with PBS, surface CD36 protein was determined by FACS assay. B, after treatment and incubation with normal IgG or anti-CD36 antibody, peritoneal macrophages were used to conduct Oil Red O staining for determination of cellular oxLDL uptake. The cells were also stained with hematoxylin solution.