Fig. 3

CKN reduced the inflammatory reaction in the aorta. Representative histochemistry images of aortic root cross-sections stained with CD68 antibody and ABCA1 antibody showed that CKN treatment decreased macrophage infiltration in the aorta. Scale bars: 100 µm (A). The levels of LXR signaling pathway and inflammatory cytokine proteins in atherosclerotic mice were determined using Western blotting (B). Western blot analysis of LXRα (C) and ABCA1 (D) in aortic tissue treated with CKN. The western blotting results showed that CKN treatment significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β (E) and TNF-α (F) in aortic tissue. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3) and analyzed by ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-hoc analysis. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001