Figure 2.

Overexpression of pro-BDNF in MMECs and its effect on MMEC apoptosis. (a–e) MMECs were transfected with either pro-BDNF or Ad-GFP. Immunostaining, Western blotting, and quantitative analysis showed that the protein expression of pro-BDNF increased in MMECs after transduction with pro-BDNF. (f–h) Transfected cells were exposed to HG and then subjected to a TUNEL assay (f, g) and enumeration of TUNEL-positive cells (h) to evaluate apoptosis. Pro-BDNF overexpression markedly elevated the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells. The data were analyzed by the t-test. The error bars represent SEM. ^∗P < 0.05 as compared with the control group or Ad-pro-BDNF group.