Cell viability in cultured HUVECs, measured by the MTT assay. Compared with the NC, HUVECs treated with AGE-BSA (100 μg/mL, 6 h) show decreased viability, but this effect is attenuated by pretreating cells with PF (25 μmol/L). In cells transfected with RAGE siRNA, cell viability decreases, but does so at various degrees. **P < 0.01 vs. NC; ###P < 0.001 vs. AGE-BSA + PF; +++P < 0.001 vs. AGE-BSA.