CD86 and atherosclerosis: Furthermore, by serial plaque sections, we observed decreased apoptotic SMCs and downregulated proinflammatory macrophages (CD86+ F4/80+ cells) (Fig. 6e), probably owing to macrophage efferocytosis-involved polarization regulation.39,40 Taken together, our data indicate that the administration of metronidazole and anti-Siglec-G antibody coated on P. gingivalis-pretreated MM is an effective strategy for P. gingivalis-infected atherosclerosis.