Plasma LPS levels in the diverse groups were determined and found an increase in AS model compared to the CON group, which was conversely decreased with the MET treatment, indicating that MET intervention possessed the ability to attenuate gut microbial-derived endotoxemia in atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice (p<0.05; Fig 3I). The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is serum lipopolysaccharide activity.