Figure 6.

OPA1 is able to regulate cell apoptosis and mitochondrial fission in VSMCs. (a) Detection of OPA1 expression in atherosclerotic plaques of patients and healthy people by western blotting. (b) Knockdown efficiency of OPA1 siRNAs after 24 hours transfection in VSMCs. (c) Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining and FACS quantification of the number of apoptotic cells after transfection of OPA1 siRNA or miR-664a-5p inhibitor. (d, e) MitoTracker staining of mitochondrial fission in VSMCs after transfection of OPA1 siRNA or miR-664 inhibitor. (f) The protein levels of apoptotis markers were determined by western blotting. All values are the average of at least 3 biological replicates, and data shown are mean ± SD. Scale bars: 20 μm. ^∗p < 0.05.