FIGURE 4.

The HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis facilitates hypoxia‐induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ARPE‐19 cells. ARPE‐19 cells were divided into the following groups: negative control (NC), hypoxia, hypoxia + 0.1% DMSO, hypoxia + digoxin, hypoxia + digoxin +nutlin‐3a, hypoxia + digoxin + miRNA‐34a mimics, hypoxia + AAV‐p53 mutant infection, hypoxia + miRNA‐34a inhibitor transfection (40 nM for 24 h) and hypoxia + AAV‐Klotho full‐length plasmid infection. A, Western blot was performed to measure the protein levels of the mesenchymal cell markers fibronectin (Fib), N‐cadherin (N‐cad) and vimentin (Vim). The relative protein levels of Fib (B), N‐cad (C) and Vim (D) compared with GAPDH levels were analysed. ^*** P < .001, hypoxia group vs normal group. ^## P < .01, compared with the hypoxia group. ^%% P < .01, ^% P < .05, compared with the hypoxia + digoxin group