Exogenous cholesterol recruitment reversed the decreased M1 polarization in 17β-HSD7 knockdown RAW 264.7. (A) MFI of Filipin Ⅲ in macrophages in the liver tissues of WT and cKO mice fed with HFD (n = 3). (B) 17β-HSD7 knockdown in RAW 264.7 was verified by qRT-PCR (left panel) and Western blot (right panel). (C) MFI of Filipin Ⅲ in RAW 264.7 was examined by flow cytometry (n = 3). mRNA expressions of (D) Nlrp3 and Il1b, (E) iNos and Cox2 were examined by qRT-PCR (n = 3). (F) MFI of CD11c in RAW 264.7 was examined by flow cytometry (n = 3). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗P < 0.001. 17β-HSD7, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7; Cox2, cyclooxygenase-2; Il1b, interleukins-1β; iNos, inducible nitric oxide synthase; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; Nlrp3, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3.