Fig. 5.

Nrf2 was involved in the regulation of mTORC2 in endothelial senescence. HUVECs were exposed to H₂O₂ and co-incubated with Rictor siRNA or negative control siRNA (NC, nonspecific siRNA). Then, Western blot analysis was performed to determine the a protein and b mRNA expression of Nrf2, n = 4. c Young and replicative senescent HUVECs were transfected with Rictor siRNA or NC siRNA, and mRNA expression of Nrf2 was detected by qRT-PCR, n = 3. d HUVECs were transfected with NC siRNA or Rictor siRNA with or without siNrf2, followed by incubation with H₂O₂, and the protein expression of p53 and p21 was detected by Western blotting, n = 4. β-Actin served as the loading control. The bar graphs show the expression levels. Data are shown as the means ± S.E.M. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. NC group or young group; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 vs. NC plus H₂O₂ group or NC plus senescent group; ^ξP < 0.05 vs. si-Rictor plus H₂O₂ treatment group