Ziziphus nummularia Inhibits Inflammation-Induced Atherogenic Phenotype of Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Figure 4

The effect of ZNE on VSMC invasion. (a) The effect of 100 and 150 μg/ml of ZNE on VSMC invasion. Values represented are mean ± SEM of % corresponding control values for VSMC invasion into Matrigel ( replicates). Treatment with increasing concentrations of ZNE is associated with graded inhibition of both spontaneous (b, d) and TNF-α-evoked (c, e) MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in VSMCs. Data represented are mean ± SEM of % MMP level in the corresponding vehicle control treatment ( replicates). For (b, d), statistical significance was tested with 2-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test for the effect of concentration at the same exposure time ( denotes compared to that of the vehicle control) and Sidak’s post-hoc test for the effect of time at the same concentration (# denotes compared to that of the corresponding concentration at 24 hours). For (c, e), statistical significance was tested with ANOVA followed by Tuckey’s post-hoc test. denotes compared to that of the MMP level evoked by TNF-α in the absence of ZNE, while # denotes compared to that of the MMP level of the vehicle control.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)