Figure 3.

Knockdown of 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA promotes VSMC proliferation, migration, and phenotypic conversion in vitro

(A) 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA inhibitors were used to down-express 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA in VSMCs. The expression of 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA was determined using qPCR. (B and C) CCK-8 (B) and cell-light EdU staining (C) was performed to measure cell proliferation at 0, 12, 24, and 36 h. (D and E) The cell migration after down-expression of 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA in VSMCs was analyzed by wound-healing (D) and Transwell (E) assay. (F) Western blotting analyses were conducted to measure the protein expression level of contractile markers after down-expression of 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA in VSMCs. (G and H) TUNEL assay (G) and western blot (H) ware used to detect cell apoptosis after down-expression of 5′-tiRNA-Cys-GCA in VSMCs. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Each experiment was repeated at least three times. Scale bars, 200 μm. ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗p < 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; ns, not significant.