Figure 7.nAChRα1 is involved in nicotine-induced atherosclerosis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation in vivo. (A) nAChRα1 knockdown attenuates nicotine-induced atherosclerotic progression in vivo. Arrow means atherosclerotic lesion. (B) nAChRα1 knockdown significantly decreases the nicotine-induced upregulation of p-STAT3. Magnification, 200×; bars, 100 μm. Abbreviations: α1 KD, nAChRα1 knockdown; NC, negative control; ni, nicotine. The data were presented as the mean ± SD, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 (n=6).
