Figure 5.

Knockdown of KLF2 decreases eNOS expression and NO production in GbE-treated endothelial cells. HUVECs were transfected with either short hairpin Klf2 (shKLF2) or a mock vector (control). Transfected cells were treated with DMSO or 100 μg/mL of GbE. Real time PCR and Western blot were used to determine eNOS RNA and protein expression, respectively. Furthermore, NO production was measured by 4,5-diaminofluorescein. shMock-infected HUVECs treated with GbE had increased eNOS expression at the (A) RNA and (B) protein level, which was blocked by KLF2 silencing. Additionally, (C) NO production also increased when incubated with GbE and abolished when KLF2 was knocked down. * p < 0.05; ^# p < 0.01, and ^† p < 0.001 vs. control. Data are presented as mean ± SEM.