Figure 3.

AMPK and TSC2 protein expression and phosphorylation. Vascular smooth muscle cells were divided into five groups: Young cells, senescent cells, Sen + rap, Sen + CC and Sen + AICAR group. (A) Representative western blots of AMPKα, p-AMPKα (Thr¹⁷²), TSC2 and p-TSC2 protein levels. (B) Semi-quantitative analysis of AMPKα, p-AMPKα (Thr¹⁷²), TSC2 and p-TSC2 protein levels in A. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n=4). *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 between two indicated groups. Sen, senescent cells; Rap, rapamycin; CC, Compound C; p-AMPK, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; AICAR, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (agonist of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase); TSC2, tuberous sclerosis complex 2.