Figure 6. GUDCA treatment prevents atherosclerosis in a manner dependent on intestinal FXR signaling.
HCD-fed Fxrfl/fl ApoE–/– and FxrΔIE ApoE–/– mice were given vehicle or GUDCA (30 mg/kg/d) by gavage for 5 weeks (n = 8/group). (A and B) Representative images of aortas stained with Oil Red O (A) and quantification of the lesions (B). (C and D) Oil Red O staining of left ventricular outflow tract sections (C) and the calculated plaque areas (D). (E and F) Typical left ventricular outflow tract sections stained for Mac-2 (E) and quantification of the positive areas (F). (G–I) Serum IL-1β (G), TNF-α (H), and MCP-1 (I) levels. (J) N-SMase activity in the ileum. (K and L) Levels of ceramides in the ileum (K) and serum (L). The data are presented as the mean ± SEM. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test (B, D, and F–J) and Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc test (K and L): *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus Fxrfl/fl ApoE–/– + vehicle. Scale bars: 200 μm.