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Figure 5 Immunohistologic Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Selective Caspase Inhibitor-Treated Animals

Movat pentachrome (M5Ch), smooth muscle cell (-actin), macrophage (Ram-11), and terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining (x200) in representative sections of aorta from nonatherosclerotic control animals, untreated atherosclerotic (Athero) animals, and those treated with selective caspase (Casp)-1, -3, and -8 inhibitors are shown. The pentachrome stains demonstrate atherosclerotic lesions with large necrotic cores, and the immunostains show intense macrophage infiltration and low smooth muscle cell content in all treated and untreated animals. Therefore, caspase treatment did not change the morphologic characteristics of the atherosclerotic lesions. The TUNEL staining showed evidence of marked apoptotic nuclei in untreated atherosclerotic animals, but treatment with caspase-1 and -3 resulted in decreased apoptotic nuclei in neointima; treatment with caspase-8 did not affect the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei.