Journal: Bioactive Materials
Article Title: A foam cell-targeted lipophagy restoration strategy stabilizes vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques
doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.041
Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo atherosclerosis reversal. ( A ) Schematic illustration of the experimental timeline and treatment strategy for establishing a mature, vulnerable atherosclerosis model and evaluating therapeutic interventions. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks and then divided into five groups (HFD+ 12W, Saline HFD+, OPN-HMCN@MLT HFD+, Saline HFD−, and OPN-HMCN@MLT HFD−). Except for the HFD+ 12W group, the remaining groups were further maintained for an additional 4 weeks under either HFD or non-HFD conditions with the indicated treatments. ( B , C ) Images of en face ORO-stained aortas ( B ) and quantitative analysis of ORO-positive regions ( C ) from mice subjected to different treatments and diets (n = 6, scale bar: 5 mm). ( D ) Aortic root sections stained by ORO, H&E, α-SMA antibody, Masson's trichrome, CD68 antibody, and MMP-9 antibody, respectively, following various therapeutic procedures (n = 6, scale bar: 500 μm). ( E - J ) Quantitative data of lipid accumulation ( E ), necrotic core area ( F ), collagen area ( G ), MMP-9 level ( H ), VSMC area ( I ), and macrophage-foam cell area ( J ) in aortic root sections. ( K ) Vulnerability scores of aortic root plaque. ∗ P < 0.05, ∗∗ P < 0.01, ∗∗∗ P < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗ P < 0.0001.
Article Snippet: Oil Red O, Hematoxylin-Eosin, and Masson's Trichrome Stain Kit were purchased from Servicebio in Wuhan, China.
Techniques: In Vivo, Saline, Staining