(A) RT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression levels of 10 genes in knockdown and control cells. EDN1, ADM, and CASP1 showed increased mRNA expression levels in NKX2-3 knockdown cells compared with control cells; MAdCAM1, AKT, VCAM1, VEGF, PLCB1, PI3K, and eNOS showed decreased mRNA expression levels in NKX2-3 knockdown cells compared with control cells. GAPDH expression served as a control. (B) Microarray results and corresponding RT-PCR for the 10 genes. The RT-PCR product bands on the photograph were scanned by densitometry. The relative mRNA expression level was expressed as gene expression levels in knockdown cells compared to gene expression levels in control cells.