Figure 4.

The expression of total Akt (t-Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in VSMCs was analysed by Western blotting. (a and b) VSMCs were cultured in normal glucose (NG) or high glucose (HG) medium supplemented with or without the PI-3K inhibitor LY294002 (LY, 20 μM). Mannitol (Mtol) was used as an osmotic control. (c and d) VSMCs were maintained in HG medium supplemented with or without an antagonist of CXCR4, AMD3100 (AMD, 10 μM), or a neutralizing antibody against SDF-1α (Ab, 1 μg/ml). (e and f) western blot analysis showed that p-Akt expression was upregulated in recombinant SDF-1α-treated VSMCs either in NG or HG condition. Results are mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 (f) and *P < 0.05 when vs. other associated groups (b, d).