Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 3 pp 4409—4427

Figure 4. MD2 knockdown reduced Ang II-induced fibrosis and phenotypic switching in VSMC. VSMCs were transfected with siRNA against MD2 for 6 h and then incubated with Ang II for 24 h. (A, B) Expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin, PCNA and COL-3 in the cultural medium were detected by western blot. Densitometric quantification was showed in panel B (n = 3; *p<0.05, **p<0.01 compared to Ctrl; #p<0.05, ##p<0.01 compared to Ang II). (C) Representative immunofluorescence staining images for α-SMA (red) in VSMCs. Cells were counterstained with DAPI (blue) (scale bar = 50 μm). (D) Quantification for staining results in Figure 4C ((n = 3; ***p<0.001 compared to Ctrl; ##p<0.01 compared to Ang II). (E) Representative immunofluorescence staining images for COL-3 (Red) in VSMCs. Cells were counterstained with DAPI (blue) (scale bar = 10 μm). (F) Quantification for staining results in Figure 4E (n = 3; ***p<0.001 compared to Ctrl; ##p<0.01 compared to Ang II). (G) Proliferation of VSMCs were detected using BrdU staining (red) (scale bar = 10 μm). (H) Quantification for staining results in panel G (n = 3; ***p<0.001 compared to Ctrl; ##p<0.01 compared to Ang II).