Bexarotene promotes erythrophagocytosis and modulates macrophage phenotype. A, Representative immunofluorescence images show engulfment of PKH-26-labeled erythrocytes (Red) in BMDMs (Green) after erythrocyte incubation for 15, 30, and 60 min. BMDMs were incubated with bexarotene (0.5 or 1 μM) for 24 hours prior to treatment with erythrocytes. B, Quantification of erythrophagocytosis. n = 3 independent experiments/group; each experiment includes 2 technical replicates. *P ≤ 0.05 vs control group by 2-way repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc test. C, Gene expression of Axl and Cd36 in BMDMs after different concentrations of bexarotene treatment for 6 and 24 h. n = 3/group. *P ≤ 0.05 vs control group by 2-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc test. D, Proinflammatory marker Tnf gene expression in thrombin-stimulated BMDMs after 0.1 or 1 μM bexarotene co-incubation for 6 and 24 h. n = 3/group. *P ≤ 0.05 vs control group by 2-way repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc test. C, control; Bex, bexarotene; T, thrombin.