AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Attenuates High Salt-Induced Activation of Epithelial Sodium Channels (ENaC) in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Figure 4

High salt-induced increase in expression of ENaC protein was attenuated by metformin (AMPK activator). (a) Representative western blots demonstrating the expression levels of total AMPK, p-AMPK, and β-actin in HUVECs cultured with normal sodium (NS), NS plus 0.5 μM of amiloride (Ami), high sodium (additional 20 mM NaCl treated for 24 h; HS), and HS plus 0.5 μM of amiloride (Ami). ((b)–(d)) Representative western blots demonstrating the expression levels of α-, β-, and γ- ENaC subunits in HUVECs cultured with NS, NS plus 2 mM metformin (Met), HS, and HS plus 2 mM metformin (Met) for 24 h. The densitometry values were normalized to β-actin ( in each group). indicates versus NS group; # represents versus HS group.

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