FIG. 1.

NTBI accumulates in arteries and exacerbates atherosclerosis. (A, B) Representative images of entire aorta and en-face aortic arch of ApoE-null and ApoE-null FPN^C326S mice stained with the lipophilic dye Sudan IV. Plaques are visible in bright red. More and bigger plaques can be observed in ApoE-null FPN^C326S mice. (C, D) Representative images of (C) innominate artery and (D) common carotid artery sections of ApoE-null and ApoE-null FPN^C326S mice stained for iron with diaminobenzidine-enhanced Perls' staining. An enlarged picture shows iron deposition in brown in the smooth muscle layer of the artery in ApoE-null FPN^C326S mice (C). While iron accumulates predominantly in the media layer (see arrowheads), the atherosclerotic plaque is almost completely iron spared (D). ApoE, apolipoprotein E; FPN, ferroportin; NTBI, nontransferrin-bound iron. Color images are available online.