Fig. 4.

AMPK signaling regulates expressions of p-mTOR and its downstream. VSMCs were stimulated with PDGF for 24 h and then transfected with control (Con) siRNA or AMPK siRNA in the presence of mesoglycan. Protein expression of p-AMPK, AMPK, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and p-4EBP1 were determined by western blot analysis (a). VSMCs were transfected with adenovirus-GFP, AMPK DNα1 and AMPK DNα2 for 6 h and then incubated for 48 h. The levels of p-AMPK, AMPK, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and p-4EBP1 were determined by western blot analysis (b). VSMCs were stimulated with PDGF for 24 h and then transfected with control (Con) siRNA or Raptor siRNA in the presence of mesoglycan. VSMCs were subjected to western blotting to determine the level of Raptor, p-mTOR, p-70S6K and p-4EBP1 proteins (c). Densitometric analysis of Raptor and p-mTOR expressions in 4C (d). *p ≤0.05 versus PDGF, ^#p ≤0.05 versus PDGF ± Meso. Representative results from three independent experiments are shown