Figure 6.

Aldosterone (ALDO) induces PASMC growth, survival, and apoptosis resistance. A) Human PASMCs were grown in standard culture medium and exposed to H₂O₂ (0, 250, 500, and 1000 μM) for 24 h to induce apoptosis. Cells were then treated with vehicle control (V) or ALDO (10⁻⁷ M) for 2 h, and apoptosis was assessed by quantifying cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments (n = 3). B) Cells were treated with V or ALDO (10⁻⁷ M) in the presence or absence of the selective MR antagonist eplerenone (EPL; 10 μM) for 1 h, and cell viability was assessed by quantifying solubilized formazan products measured by spectrophotometric analysis at 490 nm (n = 3). C) Cells were grown to confluence and then standard culture medium was replaced with serum-replete (5% FBS) or serum-starved (1% FBS) medium that contained V or ALDO (10⁻⁷ M). After incubation of cells for 2 h, cell proliferation was determined by measuring BrdU incorporation (n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± sem.