Figure 1.
Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition promotes the apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). (A) Human PASMCs were treated with various Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors at 1 µM for 24 h. The cell number was determined by counting on a hemocytometer. An equal amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 0.1%) was used as a vehicle control. The symbol * denotes that the value was significantly different from the DMSO control at p < 0.05 (n = 3). (B) Human PASMCs were treated with ABT-263 (1 µM) for 24 h. Apoptotic cells were assessed by a fluorescence-based assay that measured phospholipid phosphatidylserine by staining with an EGFP fusion of annexin V. The symbol * denotes that the value was significantly different from the DMSO control at p < 0.05.