Figure 6.

Inhibition of PKCα decreases the protein expression of MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 induced by cell cross‐talk in SMC. A, Evaluation of PKCα activation in control SMC (S NG) vs SMC previously co‐cultured with MAC in HG (Sc HG). Note that, the phosphorylated form of PKCα is significantly increased in SMC that were before exposed to MAC in HG conditions. Silencing of CCR2 or p65 decreases the phosphorylation of PKCα to control levels. B, Effect of PKCα inhibitor – Go 6976 on the MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 protein expression induced by SMC‐MAC cross‐talk. S NG – control SMC, Sc NG – SMC which were co‐cultured with MAC in normal glucose, Sc HG ‐ SMC which were co‐cultured with MAC in high glucose, Sc HGGo ‐ SMC which were co‐cultured with MAC in high glucose in presence of 1 μmol/L Go 6976. n = 3, *P < .05, **P < .01, ^# P < .05, ^## P < .01