Figure 5.

Effect of CCR2 and p65 silencing in the regulation of MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 expression in SMC. Protein expression of MMP‐1 (A) and MMP‐9 (B) determined by Western blot in control SMC (S NG), SMC which were co‐cultured with MAC in HG conditions (Sc HG), and SMC subjected to silencing of CCR‐2 and p65 and co‐cultured with MAC in HG conditions (Cneg, p65, CCR2 siRNA). Note that silencing of CCR2 or p65 decreases significantly the protein expression of MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 induced by SMC‐MAC co‐culture in high glucose conditions. n = 3, *P < .05, ^# P < .05