Shear Stress Triggers Angiogenesis of Late Endothelial Progenitor Cells via the PTEN/Akt/GTPCH/BH4 Pathway

Figure 3

The effect of LSS on PTEN/Akt and GTPCHI/BH4 pathway in EPCs. (a, b) Representative photographs and quantification analysis of PTEN protein expression (a) and phosphorylation of Akt (b) of late EPCs treated with 5, 15, and 25 dyn/cm² shear stress for 15 hours or under stationary condition, respectively ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ). (c) Representative photographs and quantification analysis of GTPCH I protein expression of late EPCs treated with 15 dyn/cm² shear stress for 5, 10, and 15 hours ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ). (d, e) Quantitative analyses of intracellular BH4 (d) and NO (e) levels in late EPCs treated with 15 dyn/cm² shear stress for 5, 10, and 15 hours, respectively ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ). (f, g) Representative photographs and quantification analysis of PTEN protein expression (f) and phosphorylation of Akt (g) of late EPCs treated with 5, 15, and 25 dyn/cm² shear stress for 15 hours or under stationary condition, respectively ( vs. EPCs at 0 h, per group). (h) Representative photographs and quantification analysis of GTPCH I protein expression of late EPCs treated with 15 dyn/cm² shear stress for 5, 10, and 15 hours ( vs. EPCs at 0 h, per group). (i, j) Quantitative analyses of intracellular BH4 (i) and NO (j) levels in late EPCs treated with 15 dyn/cm² shear stress for 5, 10, and 15 hours, respectively ( vs. EPCs at 0 h, per group). Least significant difference was applied for the post hoc test.

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