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. 2020 Apr 6;10(12):5276–5289. doi: 10.7150/thno.42470

Figure 6.

Figure 6

ERK1/2 signaling is involved in nicotine-induced endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT). (A) The protein levels of p-ERK1/2 and total ERK1/2 in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were assessed by western blot. +α-BTX indicates the co-application of α-BTX with nicotine. n = 4. (B) The mRNA levels of different EndMT-related markers and stem cell markers were determined by RT-PCR. +PD98059 indicates the co-application of PD98059 with nicotine. n = 4. (C) Morphological changes, immunofluorescence staining for EndMT-related markers (CD31, VE-cadherin, α-SMA, and FSP1) and F-actin staining were performed. +PD98059 indicates the co-application of PD98059 with nicotine. Scale bar indicates 100 µm (bright field) and 50 µm (fluorescence field). (D) Effects of PD98059 on EndMT-related protein levels. +PD98059 indicates the co-application of PD98059 with nicotine. n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.