Clopidogrel Protects Endothelium by Hindering TNFα-Induced VCAM-1 Expression through CaMKKβ/AMPK/Nrf2 Pathway

Figure 5

Effect of INN alone or in combination with AMPK or Nrf2 inhibition on TNFα-stimulated VCAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion in HAEC. (a) ECs were treated with 1 ng/mL TNFα with or without DMSO (vehicle), INN, or INN + Compound C (Comp C) for VCAM-1, p-AMPK, and AMPK expression measurement. (d) ECs transfected with shLuc or shNrf2 were incubated with 1 ng/mL TNFα in the presence or absence of INN for 8 h for VCAM-1 expression measurement. Aliquots of cell lysate underwent immunoblotting analysis. (b and e) Total RNA was extracted and underwent RT-PCR with specific primers for VCAM-1. (c and f) Adhesion assay was carried out as described in Methods. Results are expressed as means ± SD (). versus control; versus TNFα; versus TNFα/INN.