Figure 2.

Ppargc1a deficiency increases senescence and reduces autophagy in VSMCs. Ppargc1a^+/+ or ppargc1a^−/- VSMCs were infected with 5 × 10⁷ plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml of adenovirus control (Ad.Control) or adenovirus containing PPARGC1A (Ad.PGC1A). 3 d after infection, cells were processed for measurements of ROS levels using H₂DCFDA (A), SA-GLB1 activity using FDG (B), cell proliferation (C) or protein expression by western blot (D). ROS levels, SA-GLB1 and protein expression shown in D, adjusted by TUBG1 (F-N), were calculated as fold change, compared with WT cells infected with Ad.Control in 3 to 4 independent experiments performed in cells between passage 4 and 7.