Fig 1: TXNIP deletion in smooth muscle cells alleviates nicotine-induced atherogenesis and plaque vulnerability. (A) Serum IL-1β level in nicotine-infused Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice and Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α-/- mice. N=10. (B) Western blot analysis and quantification of NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved-Caspase1 p10, Cleaved-Caspase1 p20, pro-IL-1β and mIL-1β in aorta from nicotine-infused Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice and Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α-/- mice. N=4. (C) (Top) Representative images from BA lesions with oil Red O staining and (Bottom) quantification of plaque size and plaque area percentage of internal elastic lamina area of BA in nicotine-infused Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice and Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α-/- mice. N=10. (D) (Top) Representative images and (Bottom) quantification of necrotic core area in the BA based on H&E staining of nicotine-infused Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice and Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α-/- mice. N=10. (E) (Top) Representative images and (Bottom) quantification of plaque collagen content in the BA based on Masson trichrome staining of nicotine-infused Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice and Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α-/- mice. N=10. Scale bar:100μm. Values are represented as mean ± SEM. *P<0.05 vs. Apoe-/-TxnipSM22α+/+ mice.