Protective effects of IRF2BP2 against ox-LDL-induced inflammation and EMT. (A) HUVECs were transfected with empty vector or pcDNA3.1-IRF2BP2. The mRNA expression levels of IRF2BP2 were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. ***P<0.001 vs. the vector group. (B) The protein expression levels of IRF2BP2 were determined by western blot analysis. **P<0.01 vs. the vector group. (C) Following transfection, HUVECs were treated with ox-LDL for 24 h. The cell viability in different groups was determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. (D) The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the culture medium were assessed using ELISA kits. (E) The protein expression levels of VE-cadherin and vimentin were evaluated using western blot analysis. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs. the control group; #P<0.01, ##P<0.05 and ###P<0.001 vs. the ox-LDL + vector group. IRF2BP2, interferon regulatory factor binding protein 2; ox-LDL, oxidized low-density lipoprotein; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; IL-1β, interleukin 1β.