Figure 5.

Regression of atherosclerotic plaques using CSNP. (A) Schematic of experimental plan for regression therapy of advanced atherosclerosis. Mice fed with HFD for 12 weeks (baseline) were injected intravenously (black triangles) with PBS (CSNP−) or CSNP (CSNP+) twice a week for 4 weeks, and the diet was either maintained (HFD group) or switched to a normal chow-diet (NCD group). (B) Plasma cholesterol concentrations. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were measured after 4 weeks of atherosclerosis regression therapy. (C) Representative images of aortic root sections and en face aortic arch and thoracic aorta after Oil-Red-O staining. The scale bar indicates 200 μm. (D–F) Quantification of plaque area in (D) aortic root, and lesion areas in (E) aortic arch and (F) thoracic aorta after CSNP treatment. CSNP+ and CSNP− indicate intravenous injection of CSNP and PBS, respectively. Data are means ± s.e.m. [n = 8 (baseline group) or 9 (other groups); NS, not significant; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001, unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test].