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. 2020 Sep 11;9(18):e016128. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.016128

Figure 4. Extracellular S100A4 (S100 calcium‐binding protein A4) enhances MMPs expression in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and regulates VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro.

Figure 4

A, Bar graphs showing the levels of Mmp2, Mmp9, and Mmp13 mRNA in mouse VSMCs incubated with different concentrations (0–0.1 μg/mL) of recombinant mouse S100A4 protein for 16 hours. The expression level of Mmp2 increased at concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 μg/mL, whereas the expression levels of Mmp9 and Mmp13 increased at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL. B, Bar graph showing the proliferation of mouse VSMCs treated for 48 hours with different concentrations (0–1.0 μg/mL) of recombinant mouse S100A4 protein. Cell proliferation was enhanced by treatment with S100A4 at concentrations higher than 0.1 μg/mL. C, Bar graph showing the chemoattractant activity of S100A4 for mouse VSMCs using a chemotaxis assay. VSMCs' migration to the opposite compartment containing 1 μg/mL recombinant S100A4 was greater than VSMCs' migration to the compartment containing the control medium. *P<0.05, **P<0.01. MMP indicates matrix metalloproteinase; and WST, water‐soluble tetrazolium salt.