Dual Effects of Cigarette Smoke Extract on Proliferation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and the Protective Effect of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine on EPCs against the Damage Caused by CSE

Figure 5

The effect of 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR) on the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The OD levels were significantly decreased in all the EPCs in presence of 1.0% CSE, 1.0% CSE + 2 μmol/L 5-AZA-CdR, 1.0% CSE + 5 μmol/L 5-AZA-CdR, and 1.0% CSE + 10 μmol/L 5-AZA-CdR compared to those of controls (^★𝑃<0.01; or ^☆𝑃<0.05). However, the OD levels were significantly higher in the EPCs in presence of 1% CSE + 2 μmol/L~5 μmol/L 5-AZA-CdR than the EPCs in presence of 1.0% CSE (^△𝑃<0.05). The high concentration of 5-AZA-CdR (10 μmol/L) showed toxic effect on the EPCs.