Fig. 6.

Correlation of serum cortisol and TNF-sRII in aortic dissection patients and the potential mechanism involved.

a, The aortic dissection patients were stratified into high (n = 51) and low (n = 31) cortisol groups by the mean concentration of serum cortisol. #, P < 0.001 vs. high cortisol group.

b, Serum TNF-sRII was detected using ELISA method and the TNF-sRII in high cortisol group was pronounced higher than that in low cortisol group. *, P < 0.05 vs. high cortisol group.

c, Aortic macrophages were detected by immunohistochemistry (Scale bars, 100 μm and 20 μm, respectively).

d, The percentage of macrophage in high cortisol group (n = 5) was significantly lower than that in low cortisol group (n = 3). *, P < 0.05 vs. high cortisol group.

e, Role of glucocorticoids in the development of aortic dissection.

TNF-sRII = soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II.