Atorvastatin Improves Inflammatory Response in Atherosclerosis by Upregulating the Expression of GARP

Figure 3

Atorvastatin increased the number of GARP+ and Foxp3+ cells, as well as the secretory mature TGF-β1 in atherosclerotic plaques; however, inhibition of GARP by siRNA significantly suppressed these functions: (a) accumulation of GARP+ cells in the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE mouse aortic root of scrambled group (scrambled), oral atorvastatin + scrambled group (O.A. + scrambled), and oral atorvastatin + GARP-siRNA group (O.A. + GARP-siRNA) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and shown in scatter diagrams. Data were from 6 mice per group () and were independently confirmed, all , , and . (b) Accumulation of Foxp3+ cells in the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE mouse aortic root of scrambled group (scrambled), oral atorvastatin + scrambled group (O.A. + scrambled), and oral atorvastatin + GARP-siRNA group (O.A. + GARP-siRNA) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and shown in scatter diagrams. Data were from 6 mice per group () and were independently confirmed, all , , and . (c) Staining of mature TGF-β1 in the atherosclerotic plaques in aortic root of these three groups was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and shown in scatter diagrams. Data were from 6 mice per group () and were independently confirmed, all , , and . (d) The protein expression of mature TGF-β1 in aorta of these three groups was analyzed by western blot. Data were from 6 mice per group () and were independently confirmed, all , , and . (e) The relative mRNA expression of IL-10 in aorta of these three groups was analyzed by RT-PCR. Data were from 6 mice per group () and were independently confirmed, all , , and .

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