Figure 3.

CRO regulated CD68, PPARγ/LXR-α, the lipid metabolism-related factors and AKT phosphorylation in the aorta of mice with AS.

(A-H) The protein/β-actin expressions of PPARγ/LXR-α, PCSK9, CD36, ABCA1, p-AKT, and AKT in the aorta of mice with AS were detected by Western blot. β-actin was used as an internal control. (I) The ratio of p-AKT to AKT was calculated based on the data of Western blot. All experiments have been performed independently in triplicate and data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). ***P < 0.001, vs. Sham; ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001, vs. HFD. AS: Atherosclerosis, CRO-L: low dose of Crocin, CRO-H: high dose of Crocin, HFD: high-fat diet; PCSK9: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9; CD68: cluster of difference 68; ABCA1: ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 1; p-AKT: phosphorylated-AKT.