Figure 4.

HSPB1 activates JNK and disrupts Beclin-1-associated autophagy. VSMCs were treated with pCMV-Cmyc-HSPB1 and HSPB1-siRNA for 48 hr, and (a) the levels of p-JNK, JNK, and β-actin were examined. (b) Levels of p-JNK relative to those of JNK. (c–f) Cells were pretreated with 1 mM anisomycin and 5 μM SP600125 for 30 min before being treated with 60 μg/ml ox-LDL. (c) Cell lysates were harvested to examine the protein levels of p-JNK, JNK, Beclin-1, p62, and β-actin by Western blotting. (d) Levels of p-JNK relative to those of JNK. Levels of (e) Beclin-1 and (f) p62 relative to those of β-actin.