Effect of siRNA for ERK1/2, p38 and JNK on Ang II -induced expression of Cx43 in SMCs of saphenous vein. (A) hSV SMCs were stimulated with Ang II (10−7 mol/L) for 10 min (ERK and p38) and 30 min (JNK). The cells were lysed and protein expression of p-ERK, p-p38 and p-c-jun was examined. (B) After transfection of the cells with siRNA for ERK 1/2, p38, and c-jun and control-siRNA, VSMCs were treated with Ang II (10−7 mol/L) for 24 h. Proteins were quantified and each well was loaded with 20 μg of protein. Each bar represents the ratio of Cx43/GAPDH (mean ± SE) from three independent experiments. §P<0.01 compared with control group. # P<0.01 compared with Ang II group.