Fig. 4. α-LA mitigates PQ-induced endothelial dysfunction in HMEC-1 cells. (A) Relative expression levels of ET-1 mRNA determined by qRT-PCR. (B) Expression of ET-1 protein determined by western blotting. (C) Relative expression levels of eNOS mRNA determined by qRT-PCR. (D) Expression of eNOS protein determined by western blotting. (E) Measurement of NO levels in different treatment groups. The data are presented as means ± SEM from four independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. the control group; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs. the PQ group.