FIGURE 7.
Atg7 knockout can reduce AGEs-induced apoptosis and calcification. Cells were treated with AGEs for 24 h. (A) Changes in protein expression in Atg7 knockout HASMCs. Western blot analysis of LC3 and Atg7. (B) Western blot analysis of calcification-related proteins (β-catenin, Runx2, OPN, and BMP2) in AGEs-treated HASMCs with or without Atg7 knockout. (C) Western blot analysis of apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase3, Caspase9, Bax, and Bak) in AGEs-treated HASMCs with or without Atg7 knockout. Each point represents the mean ± SD (n = 3/group). *** p < 0.001 and ### p < 0.001 versus Atg7 and LC3 expression level in WT cells respectively, t-test analysis.
