Andrographolide, a Novel NF-κB Inhibitor, Induces Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis via a Ceramide-p47phox-ROS Signaling Cascade

Figure 5

The role of ceramide signaling in andrographolide-induced p47phox phosphorylation, Bax, and active caspase-3 expression in rat VSMCs. Cells were pretreated with a vehicle or 30 𝜇M 3-OMS for 30 min before being treated with 50 𝜇M andrographolide for 10 min (a), or 48 h (b and c). The extent of p47phox phosphorylation (a), Bax (b), or active caspase-3 expression (c) was examined. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM (error bars: *𝑃<0.05, **𝑃<0.01, and ***𝑃<0.001, compared with the control group, and ^##𝑃<0.01 and ^###𝑃<0.001, compared with the group treated only with andrographolide).

(a)

(b)

(c)