Decreased plaque size in ORP8 KO BM recipients and increased plaque macrophage content after 9 weeks WTD feeding.

A) Plaque size was quantified in Oil Red O stained sections. After 9 weeks of WTD feeding following BMT, a decrease in plaque size could be measured. No difference was observed after 6 weeks of dietary challenge. (N = 13 * P<0.05, data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-tests) B) Plaque macrophages were visualized using MoMa2 staining and quantified as a percentage of total plaque area. After 9 weeks of WTD feeding, an increase in the MoMa2 positive fraction was detected in the ORP8 KO BM recipients. (N = 13 * P<0.05, data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-tests) C) Collagen was visualized by staining plaques from ORP8 BM and WT BM recipients with a Masson's Trichrome (MTC) kit, but no difference was found between the groups (N = 15, significance was assessed by Student T test). D) Apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques of ORP8 KO BM recipients and WT BM controls were visualized by TUNEL staining. No difference in the amount of apoptotic cells was detected between treatment groups (N = 8, significance was assessed by Student T test). E) Aortic root sections from ORP8 KO BM recipients and WT BM controls were stained for CD3 to detect T cells. No difference between the groups was detected (N = 8, significance was assessed by Student T test). F) Representative images of Oil-Red O (ORO), MoMa2, TUNEL, CD3 and MTC stainings performed on atherosclerotic plaques of mice receiving ORP8 KO BM or WT BM. Images of ORO, Moma2 and MTC stainings, original magnification 5×. Images of TUNEL and CD3 stainings, original magnification 20×.