Effects of α-GalCer and OCH on the early phase of atherosclerosis. (A) ApoE^-/- mice were intraperitoneally injected 3 times with α-GalCer or the vehicle alone, as described in “Materials and methods.” Five weeks later, mice were examined for the development of atherosclerosis. Each symbol represents the lesion area of an individual mouse. Horizontal bars and numbers represent the mean of all mice within each group, and vertical bars represent SEM. (B) Representative histologic sections of the α-GalCer group and its control group stained with oil red O (original magnification, × 40). (C) Representative immunohistochemical section of the α-GalCer group stained with MOMA-2 and a serial section stained with hematoxylin and eosin (original magnification, × 200). (D) ApoE^-/- mice were injected with OCH or vehicle. Mean lesion areas (OCH vs vehicle) are indicated as in Figure 4A. (E) Serum concentration of cytokines after administration of α-GalCer or OCH. Mean concentrations (n = 3) of IFN-γ (top) and IL-4 (bottom) in α-GalCer (▪) and OCH (□) groups are shown after the first injection (left), the second injection (middle) and the third injection (right). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. ^*P < .05.