Figure 6. The effect of VEGFR1 inhibition on apoptosis, intracellular PI3K-Akt-FoxO3a-eNOS signaling and SODs in HGECs cultured in low glucose (5 mmol/L of D-glucose) or high glucose (30 mmol/l of D-glucose).

(A and B) Representative pictures of TUNEL-positive HGECs (original magnification ×400) and the quantitative analyses of the results are shown. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 compared with normal glucose or normal glucose with VEGFR1 inhibition groups. (C to E) SOD1 and SOD2 expressions in the HGECs. Representative Western blot analysis of the SOD1 and SOD2 and the quantitative analyses of the results are shown. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 compared with normal glucose or normal glucose with VEGFR1 inhibition. (F to K) Representative Western blot analysis of the phospho-Thr¹⁷² AMPK, total AMPK, PI3K, phospho-Ser⁴⁷³ Akt, total Akt, phospho-Ser⁴⁵³ FoxO3a, phospho-Ser¹¹⁷⁷ eNOS, total eNOS and β-actin expressions in HGECs and the quantitative analyses of the results are shown. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 compared with normal glucose or normal glucose with VEGFR1 inhibition. n = 4. (L and M) The cultured HGECs were transfected with 50 nM control siRNA (siRNA cont), 50 nM of VEGFR1 (VEGFR1 siRNA) in low-glucose media. Approximately 48 h stimulation, the expressions of the VEGFR1 were analyzed. **P<0.01 compared with siRNA control. n = 4. (N to S) Representative Western blot analysis of the phospho-Thr¹⁷² AMPK, total AMPK, PI3K, phospho-Ser⁴⁷³ Akt, total Akt, phospho-Ser⁴⁵³ FoxO3a, phospho-Ser¹¹⁷⁷ eNOS, total eNOS and β-actin expressions in HGECs with or without VEGFR1 siRNA and the quantitative analyses of the results are shown. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 compared with siRNA cont. n = 4.