Fig. 6.

PDCD4 links miR-21 with NF-κB/iNOS/NO signaling and apoptotic pathways. (a–d) Expression of NF-κB and iNOS proteins in HUVECs treated with miR-21 inhibitors or mimics. (e) Quantitative analysis of intracellular NO levels using the DAF-FM DA probe. (f–g) Western blot results showing Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression with and without PDCD4 silencing. (h) Restoration of NO levels following PDCD4 knockdown. All values represent mean ± SD of three independent experiments. ∗P < 0.05. Abbreviations: miR-21 = microRNA-21; PDCD4 = programmed cell death 4; NF-κB = nuclear factor kappa B; iNOS = inducible nitric oxide synthase; NO = nitric oxide; DAF-FM DA = 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein diacetate; Bax = Bcl-2-associated X protein.