Fig. 2

Mice were randomly divided into four groups with different diets for 16 weeks: HFD group (fed with high fat western-type diet), HM groups (fed with a methionine-supplemented diet), Casp1^−/− group (fed with a high fat diet), Casp1^−/− group (fed with a methionine-supplemented diet). A HE staining was performed on the four groups (n = 5). The scale bars correspond to 500 μm. B Relative quantitative analysis of aortic root lesion areas. C Oil-red O staining was performed on frozen aortic root sections from the four groups (n = 5). The scale bars correspond to 500 μm. D Relative quantitative analysis of lipid deposition. E Representative images of Oil-red O staining of cardiac aorta in mice of four groups (n = 5). The scale bars correspond to 1 mm. F Representative images of Masson staining (n=5). The scale bars correspond to 500 μm. G The relative collagen contents were quantified. H Representative sections double stained for CD68 (green) and Caspase-1/GSDMD (red) (n = 5). The scale bars correspond to 100 μm. I Western blot result of pyroptosis-related proteins with aortas of four groups (n = 3). J–M Relative protein expressions quantification of pyroptosis-related proteins. N Plasma levels of IL-1β assessed by ELISA (n = 10). The data are shown as the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001