Fig. 8.

Pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 in ShAkt1 HMEC partially restores the endothelial-barrier integrity in the long term. a, b Representative western blot images of ShControl and ShAkt1 HMEC lysates showing basal levels Ser9/21 phosphorylation of GSK-3α/β (n = 3). c Representative western blot images of ShControl and ShAkt1 HMEC lysates treated with PBS, 20 ng/ml VEGF, 50 ng/ml VEGF and 50 ng/ml Ang1 showing a comparison on phosphorylation and total expression of β-catenin, a GSK-3 substrate. d Densitometry analysis of Western blots of ShControl and ShAkt1 HMEC lysates treated with PBS, 20 ng/ml VEGF, 50 ng/ml VEGF and 50 ng/ml Ang1 showing a comparison on phosphorylation and total expression of β-catenin (n = 3). e Bar graph showing the effect of GSK-3 inhibitor SB415286 (20 µM) on endothelial-barrier resistance in ShControl and ShAkt1 HMEC as measured from the ECIS equipment (n = 4). *P < 0.01, ^# P < 0.05, ^$compared to untreated control