Fluvastatin Upregulates the α_1C Subunit of CaV1.2 Channel Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via RhoA and ERK/p38 MAPK Pathways

Figure 1

Effects of Flu on VSMCs proliferation analyzed by immunofluorescent staining and [³H]-thymidine uptake. Primary cell culture (a); expression of α-smooth muscle-actin in VSMCs as depicted by immunofluorescent staining (b). Enhanced osteopontin expression, nuclear division (arrow), and increased cell density were noted in VSMCs treated with PDGF (c). Reduced osteopontin fluorescence, spindle-shape appearance was observed in VSMCs by coincubation of fluvastatin and PDGF (d). Flu inhibited [³H]-thymidine incorporation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner (e, f). Results represented as mean ± SEM of 3 independent experiments in triplicate. versus blank control and versus cells incubation with PDGF. Flu: fluvastatin; PDGF: platelet derived growth factor; and M: mol/L.

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