Figure 1

Enhanced macrophage accumulation and ICAM-1 expression within the atherosclerotic lesions of mice transplanted with bone marrow from GDF-15^−/−donors. (A) Video-microscopic evaluation of positive staining for macrophages (Mac-2-staining) showed significant enhanced macrophage accumulation within the atherosclerotic lesions of LDLr^−/− mice transplanted with bone marrow from GDF-15^−/− mice in comparison to wild-type controls (p<0.01). Data are presented as ratio positive macrophage staining/lesion; Mean±SEM. (B) Video-microscopic evaluation of positive staining for ICAM-1 demonstrated a significant enhanced expression within atherosclerotic lesions of LDLr^−/− mice transplanted with bone marrow from GDF-15^−/− mice compared to wild-type controls (p<0.01). Data are presented as ratio positive ICAM-1 staining/lesion; Mean±SEM. (C) Atherosclerotic lesions of LDL^−/− mice transplanted with bone marrow from GDF-15^−/− donors (p<0.01) showed a significantly thinner fibrous cap than controls. Data are presented as μm thickness; Mean±SEM.