FIGURE 2.

METTL3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, tube formation, and VEGF expression/secretion in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs. (A) HUVECs were transfected with si-NC or si-METTL3. Forty-eight hours later, METTL3 mRNA and protein levels were measured through RT-qPCR and western blot assays, respectively. (B–E) HUVECs transfected with si-NC or si-METTL3 were stimulated with 10 μg/ml of ox-LDL. (B, C) At 24 h after ox-LDL treatment, cell proliferative (B) and migratory (C) abilities were measured through CCK-8 and Transwell migration assays, respectively. (D) At 12 h after ox-LDL exposure, tube formation capacity was assessed by tube formation assay. (E) VEGF protein expression and secretion levels were determined through western blot and ELISA assays at 24 h after ox-LDL treatment, respectively. Three independent experiments were performed for all in vitro assays. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.