Research Article

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

Figure 6

Hypothetical scheme of the signal pathways in andrographolide-induced rat VSMC apoptosis. Andrographolide stimulated the ceramide-mediated signal events, resulting in the activation of the p47phox-ROS cascade, ultimately stimulating active caspase-3 expression and VSMC apoptosis. Nox produces superoxide ( ), followed by the induction of . is capable of inducing DNA damage to cause p53 activation, which can lead Bax and active caspase-3 expression. nSMase: neutral sphingomyelinase; SM: sphingomyelinase; Nox: NADPH oxidase.
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