Figure 6. NOR-1 and cIAP2 are modulated by CoCl₂ in VSMC in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

(a,b) NOR-1 (white bars) and cIAP2 (black bars) mRNA levels analyzed by real-time PCR in VSMC exposed to increasing concentrations of CoCl₂ (a) or CoCl₂ (0.5 mM) for increasing times (b) (n = at least 5). *P < 0.0001 vs. cells maintained in normoxia (Norm). (c) Representative western blot showing protein levels of NOR-1 and cIAP2 in VSMC exposed to CoCl₂ (0.5 mM) for increasing times. Levels of β-actin are shown as a loading control in western blot analysis. (d) Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy analysis showing cIAP2 (green) and nuclei (Hoechst stain, blue) in VSMC exposed to CoCl₂ for 6 hours. Bar = 25 μm.