Fig. 4.
Glucocorticoids regulate the apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells in co-culture with macrophages system in vitro.
a, Human aortic smooth muscle cells were starved for 24 h. Total apoptosis of HA-SMCs was determined by ImageStreamχ imaging flow cytometry after glucocorticoids intervention for another 48 h.
b, Single normal, early apoptosis, late apoptosis, and necrotic human aortic smooth muscle cells were presented.
c, Co-culture with macrophages caused a decreased apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells, and glucocorticoids enhanced the inhibitory effect (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 or H-CORT. group.
d, The concentration of IL-6 in co-culture system was significantly elevated than that in single-cell group (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 group; **, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 or HA-SMC group; ***, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 + H-CORT., HA-SMC + THP-1 or HA-SMC + H-CORT. group.
e, The concentration of TNF-sRII in co-culture system was pronounced higher than that in single-cell groups (n = 4). #, P < 0.001 vs. THP-1 or HA-SMC group; ##, P < 0.001 vs. HA-SMC + THP-1 or HA-SMC + H-CORT. group.
f, Total apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cell was determined by flow cytometry after glucocorticoids intervention and IL-6 antibodies neutralization (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 group; **, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 + nAb-IL-6 group.
g, Total apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cell A-SMC was determined by flow cytometry after glucocorticoids intervention and TNF-sRII antibodies neutralization (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 vs. THP-1 + H-CORT. or THP-1 + nAb-TNF-sRII group.
HA-SMC = human aortic smooth muscle cell; H-CORT. = human cortisol; IL-6 = interleukin-6; nAb-IL-6 = neutralizing antibody of IL-6; nAb-TNF-sRII = neutralizing antibody of TNF-sRII; TNF-sRII = soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II.