Fig. 2.

Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) mediates mitochondrial fission in hippurate-treated endothelial cells. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were treated with 4 mmol/l hippurate for 48 h. (A) Representative transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images of mitochondria in HAECs. (B) Mitochondria in HAECs were labeled with MitoTracker Green staining (original magnification 2400 ×), and mitochondrial morphology was analyzed using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. (C-E) Protein and mRNA levels of mitochondrial fission–related proteins (Drp1, Mff and Fis1) in HAECs exposed to hippurate. (F-H) HAECs were transfected with control siRNA (Ctrl-siRNA) or Drp1-siRNA for 6 h, then treated with 4 mmol/l hippurate for 48 h. Knockdown of Drp1 expression was assessed by western blot and qRT-PCR. *P < 0.05 vs. control.