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

Figure 8

The formation of LC3 puncta and autophagosome varied with C/EBPα, PIK3C2A, and autophagy in angiotensin II-treated VSMCs. Representative LC3 puncta images (a) of Ang II-treated VSMCs and the quantitation of LC3 IOD (b) of positive cells. (c) The autophagosome in each group observed using the TEM. 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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