p21-Activated Kinase 4 Promotes Intimal Hyperplasia and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation during Superficial Femoral Artery Restenosis after Angioplasty

Figure 4

The mechanism of PAK4 modulating VSMCs proliferation. (a) Western blot analysis of p21, p-Akt, and Akt protein levels in OE-PAK4 VSMCs and control group. The protein expression levels were normalized to β-actin. . (b) A model of PAK4 mediating VSMCs proliferation. PAK4 expression induces the activation of Akt signaling, which further attenuates the level of p21. The decreased p21 level promotes G0/S transition in cell cycle progression and then contributes to VSMCs proliferation ().

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