C/EBPα-Mediated Transcriptional Activation of PIK3C2A Regulates Autophagy, Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression, and Phenotypic of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Aortic Dissection

Figure 4

The impact of C/EBPα in angiotensin II- (Ang II-) treated VSMCs. The relative protein expressions in Ang II-treated VSMCs with presence of C/EBPα overexpression or knockdown were analyzed by Western blot. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Data are presented as . (a, b) Evaluation of the influence of C/EBPα on the expression of α-SMA, SM-MHC, and OPN proteins. (c, d) Evaluation of the influence of C/EBPα on the expression of PIK3C2A protein. (e, f) Evaluation of the influence of C/EBPα on the expression of Beclin-1, p62, LC3II, and LC3I proteins. (g, h) Evaluation of the influence of C/EBPα on the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins. (i) Intracellular ROS was measured by flow cytometry using DCFH-DA probe with presence of C/EBPα overexpression or knockdown. Control: control group; model: treated with 1 μM Ang II; vector: treated with 1 μM Ang II in vector transfected VSMCs; pcC/EBPα: treated with 1 μM Ang II in C/EBPα-overexpressed VSMCs; siNC: treated with 1 μM Ang II in siRNA NC-transfected VSMCs; siC/EBPα: treated with 1 μM Ang II in C/EBPα-knockdown VSMCs. vs. control, ^# vs. model.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)