Fig. 1

Diabetic ApoE^−/− mice increased aortic atherosclerosis with chronic low-grade inflammation and dendritic cell activation. Compared with the control group, the size of the atherosclerotic plaques (a) in the aortic roots of the diabetic ApoE^−/− mice was increased, and the plaque collagen content (b) was decreased, while the numbers of macrophages c and DCs d were increased. The expression of CD83 and CD86 e in DCs isolated from spleens was increased, as well as the expression of IL12b, IL4, IL6 (f), and chemokine receptors such as CCR7 and CXCR4 g also were up-regulated in the diabetic mice. The expression of ICAM and VCAM (h) in the aorta were up-regulated in the diabetic ApoE^−/− mice, and the concentrations of TNFα, IFNγ, and CRP (i, j) were also significantly increased in peripheral blood. Values, mean ± SED; n = 8; *p < 0.05 vs. DM group, scale bar, 250 μm; DM Diabetes mellitus, AS Atherosclerosis, DAPI 4,6-diamino-2-phenyl indole, IL Interleukin, ICAM Intercellular adhesion molecule, VCAM Vascular cell adhesion molecule, TNFα Tumor necrosis factor alpha, IFNγ IFN gamma. CRP C-reactive protein