RNA interference silencing, pharmacological blockade, or genetic deletion of RAGE attenuates hypoxia-mediated expression of Egr-1 in THP-1 cells and macrophages. THP-1 cells and peritoneal Mϕ from RAGE+/+ and RAGE−/− mice were exposed to hypoxia (H; 0.5% of oxygen) or normoxia (N) for the indicated times. Total RNA was prepared from those cells, and real-time PCR analysis of Egr-1 expression was performed. Data are represented as the relative expression of mRNA for Egr-1 normalized to 18 S rRNA. A, RNA was prepared from THP-1 cells transfected with or without siRNA-RAGE, scramble siRNA, or siRNA-GADPH and subjected to hypoxia for 15 min. B, RNA was prepared from THP-1 cells preincubated with or without sRAGE (25 μg/ml) or anti-RAGE IgG (15 μg/ml) and then subjected to hypoxia for 15 min. C, RNA was prepared from RAGE+/+ and RAGE−/− Mϕ after exposure to hypoxia or normoxia for the indicated times. * (p < 0.0001) and ** (p < 0.001) indicate statistical significance; #, no statistical significance.