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

Figure 5

RAGE is essential for phenotypic transformation induced by CML in VSMC. Predesigned siRNAs for negative control or RAGE were transfected to primary VSMCs at 25 nmol/l. VSMCs were used for experiments 72 h posttransfection. (a) Fluorescence photomicrographs show CD68 staining (red), ACTA2 (green), and DAPI (blue) in different groups. Magnification ×400. (b) Representative mRNA levels of macrophage phenotype and VSMC phenotype. Results are representative of 3 experiments with similar results. . (c) Representative western blot images of ACTA2 and CD68. Results are representative of 3 experiments with similar results. .

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