Fig 2: Effects of the ARCR herb pair on M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 balance in atherosclerotic lesions. (a) Representative images of MOMA-2 + iNOS+ and MOMA-2 + Arg-1+ macrophages (scale bars: 50 µm). (b-c) Statistics of the number of MOMA-2 + iNOS+ and MOMA-2 + Arg-1+ macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. (d) Representative images of CD4 + T-bet+ and CD4 + GATA-3+ cells (scale bars: 50 µm). (e-f) Statistics of the number of CD4 + T-bet+ and CD4 + GATA-3+ cells in atherosclerotic lesions. The data are presented as the means ± SD, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. the control group; ?P < 0.05, ??P < 0.01 vs. the model group; °P < 0.05, °°P < 0.01 vs. ARCR group; #P > 0.05 vs. Simva group.

Fig 3: The ARCR herb pair regulated the M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 balance via a STAT6-dependent pathway. (a) The expression of F4/80 + CD11c+ and F4/80 + CD206+ cells was examined using flow cytometry. (b) Percentages of M1 and M2 macrophages and M1/M2 macrophages. (c) The expression of CD4 + CD25 + T-bet+ and CD4 + CD25 + GATA-3+ cells was examined. (d) Percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells and Th1/Th2. The data are presented as the means ± SD, n = 4. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. the control group; ?P < 0.05, ??P < 0.01 vs. the model group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. ARCR group.

Fig 4: The ARCR herb pair regulated the M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 balance in atherosclerotic lesions via a STAT6-dependent pathway. (a) Representative images of MOMA-2 + iNOS+ and MOMA-2 + Arg-1+ macrophages. (b-c) Statistics of the number of MOMA-2 + iNOS+ and MOMA-2 + Arg-1+ macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. (d) Representative images of CD4 + T-bet+ and CD4 + GATA-3+ cells. (e-f) Statistics of the number of CD4 + T-bet+ and CD4 + GATA-3+ cells in atherosclerotic lesions. The data are presented as the means ± SD, n = 3, scale bars: 50 µm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. the control group; ?P < 0.05, ??P < 0.01 vs. the model group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. ARCR group.

Fig 5: The ARCR herb pair promoted the phosphorylation of STAT6 and regulated inflammatory cytokines. (a) Representative western blot of iNOS, Arg-1, T-bet, GATA-3 and p-STAT6. (b) iNOS, Arg-1, T-bet and GATA-3 expression relative to the β-actin level. (c) p-STAT6 expression relative to the STAT6 level. (d) ELISA for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 and (f) IFN-γ and the anti-inflammatory cytokines (e) IL-10 and (g) IL-4 in the supernatant. The data are presented as the means ± SD, n = 4. ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. the control group; ΔP < 0.05, ΔΔP < 0.01 vs. the model group; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 vs. ARCR group.