Figure 2.

CD146 is required for oxLDL-induced macrophage activation. (A-H) Western blot analysis of IκBα, phosphorylated (p-) and total NF-κB p65, Src and JNK in oxLDL-stimulated (50 μg/ml) BMDMs isolated from CD146^WT or CD146^M-KO mice (A-D) or BMDMs with or without pretreatment with anti-CD146 AA98 (50 μg/ml) (E-H). GAPDH was used as a loading control. The upper panel indicated the quantification of CD146 expression. (I, J) Quantitative real-time (RT) PCR analysis of mRNA levels of the inflammatory factors Mcp-1, Mmp-9, Tnf-α, Ifn-γ and Il1-β in BMDMs that were treated with oxLDL (50 μg/ml) for 24 h. (I) BMDMs were isolated from CD146^WT or CD146^M-KO mice and stimulated as indicated. (J) CD146^WT BDMDs were stimulated as indicated in the presence of control mIgG or anti-CD146 AA98 (50 μg/ml). Two-way ANOVA test, ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001. The data represent three independent experiments.