Figure 2.

Amlodipine (AM)‐induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation requires miR‐21. (a, b) Western blots of VSMC differentiation genes in aorta vessels in different groups. (c–f) Protein levels of smooth muscle phenotype transition‐related genes were examined. (g) Immunofluorescence staining of VSMCs treated with or without AM after transfection with miR‐21 mimics, inhibitor, or negative control (con) for 24 hr. (h) Western blot analysis of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) in VSMCs treated with miR‐21 mimics, inhibitor, or negative con. (i, j) PDCD4 and PTEN expression was determined by Western blot after AM treatment at different doses and times. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 6). *P < .05 versus Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) + vehicle or con or 0 hr; ^& P < .05 versus inhibitor–con + AM or inhibitor random; and ^# P < .05 versus miR – con + AM. α‐SMA, α‐smooth muscle actin; CNN1, calponin 1; OPN, osteopontin; SM‐MHC, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain