Figure 4.

Acacetin attenuated atherosclerosis in Western diet‐fed apoE^−/− mice by driving the macrophage phenotype to ‘repair’ M2‐polarized cells through the activation of Nrf2 and MsrA in lesions. (A‐B) The atherosclerotic lesions were examined using Oil Red O‐stained cross‐sections of the aortic root (8‐μm serial sections) and by en face analysis of the aorta. Representative lesions in cross‐sections of the aortic root (n = 5) and en face aortas (n = 5). (C‐E) The atherosclerotic lesion areas were quantified by Image J software. (F) The pNrf2 and Nrf2 expression levels in aortas were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Micrographs were captured at ×400 magnification. (G) The MsrA expression levels in aortas were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Micrographs were captured at ×400 magnification. (H) The M1 (positive with iNos) and M2 (Positive with CD206) macrophages profile in aortas were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Micrographs were captured at ×200 magnification. n = 5‐9 of each group, P ^* < .05, P ^** < .01 vs control group