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

Figure 7

The impact of PIK3C2A and autophagy in angiotensin II- (Ang II-) treated VSMCs. The autophagy and phenotype changes in Ang II-treated VSMCs were analyzed by Western blot. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Data are presented as . (a) Evaluation of the influence on the expression of α-SMA, SM-MHC, and OPN proteins. (b) Evaluation of the influence on the expression of Beclin-1, p62, LC3II, and LC3I proteins. Model: treated with 1 μM Ang II; Rap: cotreated with 1 μM Ang II and 0.25 μM rapamycin; 3-MA: cotreated with 1 μM Ang II and 5 mM 3-methyladenine; pcC/EBPα+3-MA: cotreated with 1 μM Ang II and 5 mM 3-methyladenine in C/EBPα-overexpressed VSMCs; vector+siNC: treated with 1 μM Ang II in pcDNA3.1 and siRNA NC cotransfected VSMCs; vector+siPIK3C2A: treated with 1 μM Ang II in pcDNA3.1 and PIK3C2A siRNA cotransfected VSMCs; pcC/EBPα+siNC: treated with 1 μM Ang II in pcC/EBPα and siRNA NC cotransfected VSMCs; pcC/EBPα+siPIK3C2A: treated with 1 μM Ang II in pcC/EBPα and PIK3C2A siRNA cotransfected VSMCs. vs. model, ^# vs. pcC/EBPα+siPIK3C2A.

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