Fig. 3. Knockdown of USP14 inhibits the proliferation and migration in PDGF-BB-induced HASMCs. (A) Western blot analysis was performed to detect the USP14 expression after transfection with si-USP14 or si-NC. *p < 0.05 vs. si-NC group. HASMCs were transfected with si-NC or si-USP14 in the presence of PDGF-BB (40 ng ml⁻¹) for 24 h; or only transfected with si-USP14 for 24 h. (B) CCK-8 was performed to evaluate cell proliferation of HASMCs. (C) Transwell assays were carried out to evaluate cell migration of HASMCs. (D) The protein expression levels of MMP-1 and vimentin were detected using western blot. (E and F) Quantification analysis of MMP-1 and vimentin. *p < 0.05 vs. control group; ^#p < 0.05 vs. si-NC + PDGF-BB group.