Figure 4.
AGEs induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of EPCs. (A) In the TUNEL assay, nuclei in apoptosis cells appear brown. Co-culturing with AGEs increases apoptosis compared with the control group. Blocking RAGE or culturing with DPI prevented this effect. (B) Cells expressing annexin V were counted by flow-cytometry analysis. The number of EPCs undergoing apoptosis increased with AGEs, and the effect was attenuated by RAGE silencing and NADPH inhibition. Cyt-C activity assay (C) and caspase-3 activity assay (D) also showed the same results. Significances of differences are as indicated: n = 5; *P < 0.05 vs control; **P < 0.05 vs AGEs400. (E) Cell proliferation was evaluated by 3H thymidine incorporation assay. Co-cultured with AGEs inhibits EPCs proliferation. SiRNA and DPI decreased the inhibitory effects of AGEs. Significances of differences are as indicated: n = 5; *P < 0.05 vs control; **P < 0.05 vs AGEs400.