Figure 2. Mcp1 deletion in nestin⁺ cells delays atherosclerosis progression.

(a,c) Representative photographs of whole-mounted aortas from tamoxifen-treated (a) Cdh5-cre^ERT2;Mcp1^f/f;ApoE^−/− mice, (c) Nes-cre^ERT2;Mcp1^f/f;ApoE^−/− mice and control littermates (without Cre) two months after HFD, stained with Oil Red O (red) to mark atheroma plaques (n=6). (a,c) Scale bar, 1 mm. (b,d) Lesion size and coverage in the aortic arch (left) and number of lesions in the thoracic aorta (right) of these mice (n=3–6). Data are means±s.e.m.; n and P values are indicated; *P<0.05, unpaired two-tailed t test.