FIGURE 4.

Inflammatory cytokines in the LDLR^−/− mice. (A,B) Representative photomicrographs of aortic root sections stained with NF-κB P65 in atherosclerotic plaque followed by the quantification, magnification ×200, n = 6. (C–E) Production of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were measured by ELISA kit, n = 8. Aorta (F–H) and liver tissue (I–K) gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by RT-qPCR method, n = 8. (L) Protein was extracted from mice aorta. Then the levels of iNOS, VCAM-1 and IL-6 were determined by western blotting assay, n = 3. (M) The quantitative results were depicted. CON means control group, MOD means model group, AS-IV means Astragaloside IV group, ATO means Atorvastatin group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. **p < 0.01 versus CON group; ##p < 0.01 versus MOD group.