Figure 1.

B cell deficiency reduces AngII induced atherosclerosis but adoptive transfer of B cells does not reverse atheroprotection in mice infused with AngII. (a) Representative pictures (left), quantitative lesion assessment by Oil Red O staining in the aortic sinus (right) of Apoe ^−/− and Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− mice with or without B cell transfer infused with PBS for 28 days (Apoe ^−/−, n = 15; Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/−, n = 15; Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− + B cells, n = 17). PBS was infused in 8-week old mice during 28 days. B cell supplementation was carried out 3 weeks before PBS infusion in one Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− group. (b) Representative pictures (left) and quantitative lesion assessment by Oil Red O staining in the aortic sinus (right) of Apoe ^−/− and Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− mice transferred with B cells in the presence of AngII (Apoe ^−/−, n = 12; Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/−, n = 9; Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− + B cells, n = 7). AngII (1 µg/kg/min) was infused in 8-week old mice during 28 days. B cell supplementation was carried out 3 weeks before AngII infusion in one Apoe ^−/− /Baffr ^−/− group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, n.s denotes non significance. Scale bar 200 μm.