Endothelial Cell-Derived SO₂ Controls Endothelial Cell Inflammation, Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation, and Collagen Synthesis to Inhibit Hypoxic Pulmonary Vascular Remodelling

Figure 3

EC-derived SO₂ deficiency activates HPAEC inflammation, HPASMC proliferation, and collagen synthesis in vitro. (a) Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression level of AAT1 protein in HPAECs (). (b) The red SO₂ fluorescent probe method was used to detect the SO₂ level in HPAECs; the nuclei were stained with DAPI. (c) Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression level of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 protein in HPAECs (). (d) Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression level of ICAM-1 protein in HPAECs in situ. Purple fluorescence represents ICAM-1 protein. (e) Fluorescence method was conducted to detect the adhesion of THP-1 cells and HPAECs. The red Dil color marks the THP-1 cells, and the DAPI color marks the nuclei of HPAECs. (f) Diagram of the transwell used for the coculture system in vitro. (g) Western blot analysis method to detect the expression level of Ki-67 and collagen I protein in HPASMCs cocultured with HPAECs (). The data were expressed as , , scale bar: 20 μm.

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