Advanced Glycation End Products Induce Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell-Derived Foam Cell Formation and Transdifferentiate to a Macrophage-Like State

Figure 2

CML promotes lipid accumulation in VSMCs and increases RAGE and LOX-1 expression. (a) Primary VSMCs were incubated for 72 hours with indicated concentrations of oxLDL or prestimulated by CML. Cells were then fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and stained with Mayer hematoxylin and oil red O. Magnification ×200. vs. control group, vs. oxLDL group. (b) Proteins were extracted from primary VSMCs stimulated as above. Representative protein expression of receptors of CML RAGE and Gal-3, vs. control group, vs. oxLDL group. (c) Representative protein expression of scavenger receptors CD36, SR-B1, and LOX-1, vs. control group, vs. oxLDL group. Results are representative of 3 experiments with similar results.

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