HN is localized to multiple cells of the atheromatous plaque.

<p>Immunofluorescence of the carotid plaque to detect the presence of (A) HN with (B) CD68. (C) Nuclei can be visualized using a DAPI counterstain. (D) Merging of these images demonstrates co-localization of HN with plaque macrophages, (E) seen better with increased magnification. Merged images below demonstrate co-localization of HN with (F) smooth muscle α-actinin, (G) fibroblast vimentin, and (H) dendritic cell fascin.</p

HN is expressed in M2 phase macrophages.

<p>HN-secreting macrophages in the M2 polarization phase (indicated by arginase-1) were present, but less in number than HN-secreting M1 macrophages. No differences were seen between groups.</p

Cellular apoptosis is greater in plaques of symptomatic patients.

<p>Representative TUNEL staining can been seen in carotid plaques from (A) asymptomatic and (B) symptomatic patients. Inserts show magnification of the black boxes in the main figure and arrows indicate brown apoptotic nuclei (original magnification 200×). Proportion of apoptotic nuclei was greater in plaques of symptomatic patients compared to asymptomatic (p<0.01).</p

Clinical Characteristics of Study Population.

<p>BMI indicates body mass index; CAD indicates coronary artery disease; LDL indicates low density lipoprotein; HDL indicates high density lipoprotein; ARB indicates angiotensin II receptor blocker; Values are expressed as mean±SEM for continuous variables;</p><p>*p<0.05 vs. asymptomatic.</p

Histological immunoreactivity of HN is greater in symptomatic patients.

<p>HN expression is greater in carotid plaques from TIA (n = 12) and stroke (n = 10) symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (n = 12; †p<0.001).</p

HN is expressed in M1 phase macrophages.

<p>Immunofluorescence reveals the presence of more HN-secreting macrophages in the M1 polarization phase (indicated by iNOS) in symptomatic patients (*p<0.05 vs. asymptomatic, #p<0.05 vs. TIA).</p

HN protein blotting is greater in symptomatic patients.

<p>Western Blot demonstrates amount of HN is greater in carotid plaques of symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (combined symptomatic not depicted, p<0.01). Representative immunoblot shown above. Results expressed as the ratio of HN and β-actin densitometric signals (†p<0.05 vs. asymptomatic).</p

Representative immunostaining of HN.

<p>HN can be seen in carotid plaques (top row) from asymptomatic (left), TIA (middle), and stroke (right) patients. Increased magnification of these slides (bottom row) demonstrates intracellular localization (arrows indicate examples of staining).</p