Figure 7. Prophylactically effect of AMPK on levels of p16, p21, SOD2, and SIRT3 proteins in mouse lungs with emphysema.

C57BL/6J mice were intracheally injected with elastase, and metformin (50 and 250 mg/kg) as well as Compound C (4 and 20 mg/kg) was administered into these mice through oral gavage. (A) Protein levels of p16, p21, SOD2, and SIRT3 proteins were measured by Western blot, and β-actin was used as loading control. (B) Densitometry of bands were normalized to β-actin, which were expressed as the mean ± SEM. N = 4–5. *P < 0.05, ^*P < 0.01, vs. saline; ^†P < 0.05, ^††P < 0.01, vs. elastase-Veh group.