Fig. 4

RAM11 immunoreactivity becomes positive in CPECs in rabbits exposed to cholesterol for a longer time. a A resident RAM11-positive macrophage is shown in the CP of a standard chow-fed rabbit. The cell is at the apical side of the CPEC. Representative of four standard chow-diet rabbits. b In 16-week cholesterol-fed rabbits, RAM11-positive macrophages started to accumulate within the stromal region of the CP. The number of rabbits observed is six. c Representative of 32-week-old WHHL (32-week cholesterol exposed) rabbits, RAM11-positive foam cells (FCs) within the CP are seen and CPECs adjacent to FCs become RAM11-positive (arrows). d In a region of the CP where cholesterol crystals (CCs) are formed, the punctate RAM11 immunoreactivity (arrows) of CPEC is denser. c, d are representative images of seven WHHL rabbits. Scale bars = 20 μm. CPs from LVs are shown. e Expression of Ccl2 mRNA from pig’s CPECs determined by qRT-PCR. The interleaved bars in the scatter plot show the median values (n = 4). Differences between multiple groups were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison post hoc test. ****p < 0.0001