Figure 3.

The effects of β-GP, Met and CC on the AMPK signaling pathway and on cell calcification and autophagy activity in VSMCs. (A) Western blots showing protein levels of p- and t-AMPK and mTOR in VSMCs treated with β-GP, Met or CC. (B) Western blots showing protein levels of LC3, beclin 1, α-SMA and Runx2 in VSMCs treated with β-GP, MET, or CC. Western bands of interest were normalized against GAPDH or β-actin, and data are presented as relative density ratios compared with β-GP group. Representative images are shown. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n=3. ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01, ^***P<0.001. β-GP, β-glycerophosphate; Met, metformin; 3-MA, 3-methyladenine; CC, compound C; VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell; p, phosphorylated; t, total; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin; RUNX2, runt-related transcription factor 2; AMPK, 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin.