Figure 3.

Protocatechuic acid counteracted oxLDL-induced activation of p53 and expression of its target genes p66Shc and Bax. Blotting analyses of (a) serine-phosphorylated p53 (1 h after oxLDL treatment) detected in anti-p53 immunoprecipitate and normalized to the nonphosphorylated protein. (b) p53 content determined in nuclear extract and normalized to lamin B protein, (c) p66Shc protein expression, and (d) Bax protein expression, normalized to cyclophilin protein. Values obtained in control cells (CTR), oxLDL-treated cells (oxLDL), and oxLDL-treated cells preincubated with 25 μM PCA (PCA + oxLDL) were compared. Representative blots are shown. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (^∗ P < 0.05 versus controls) of at least three independent experiments.