In vivo depletion of phagocytic cells abolishes PEG-rMuIL-10 reduction of cholesterol.

<p>Ldlr-/- or wt mice were fed nc or hfc for 1–2 weeks prior to initiation of stated treatment. Treatments were; 1 mg/kg PEG-rMuIL-10 (1 mg/kg), HEPES buffer (HEPES), 5 mg/ml clodronate liposomes (Cl) or liposomes (Li). (A), peripheral monocyte percentage of white blood cells of vehicle or PEG-rMuIL-10 treated mice in combination with clodronate liposomes or liposomes. (B), representative hepatic F4/80 images from mice in (A). (C), total plasma cholesterol after 7 days treatment with; HEPES/liposomes, HEPES/clodronate, PEG-rMuIL-10/liposomes, or PEG-rMuIL-10/clodronate. (D-F), the same series of experiments as in (A-C) after 14 days of treatment. (A-F) statistics were assessed by ANOVA multiple comparisons where *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.