Fig. 3

Flow cytometric analysis and the relationship between CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ monocyte levels and VH-TCFA prevalence. a First, FSC and SSC of the cells were measured, and the mononuclear cell population was gated (red circle). Next, the expression of CD14 and CD16 in the selected monocytes was assessed: b a representative plot from a patient with a low CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ rate; c a representative plot from a patient with a high CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ rate. Boxplots show CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ monocyte counts in all patients (d), DM patients (e), and non-DM patients (f) in the presence or absence of VH-TCFA. Error bars represent the minimum to maximum values. Subset 1: CD14⁺⁺CD16⁻ monocytes. Subset 2: CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ monocytes. Subset 3: CD14⁺CD16⁺ monocytes. DM diabetes mellitus, FSC forward scatter, SSC side scatter, VH-TCFA virtual histology thin-cap fibroatheroma