fig1

Figure 1. The role of the immune system in atherosclerosis in women. We demonstrate the sex-specific immune mechanisms of atherosclerosis in women, highlighting the association of immune regulation with estrogen action. The boxed content compares plaque differences between men and women, showing the sex-specific features of inflammatory cell (e.g., macrophage, T-cell, and B-cell) infiltration in women’s plaques. IL-1β: Interleukin-1β; IL-6: interleukin-6; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; NETs: neutrophil extracellular trapping networks; oxLDL: oxidized LDL; Treg: regulatory T cells; VSMCs: vascular smooth muscle cells. The figure was created with https://app.biorender.com/illustrations/684df97250730a2a26c9c59c.