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

Figure 4

The relationship between PTEN/Akt and GTPCHI/BH4 pathway in EPCs in response to LSS. (a) Representative photograph and quantitative analysis of the effects of Akt inhibition or GTPCH I knockdown on LSS-regulated PTEN protein expression in late EPCs ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ; NS: no significant difference vs. LSS+EPC group, per group). (b) Representative photograph and quantitative analysis of the effects of Akt inhibition or GTPCH I knockdown on LSS-regulated Akt phosphorylation of EPCs in late EPCs ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ; NS: no significant difference vs. LSS+EPC group, per group). (c) Representative photograph and quantitative analysis of the effects of Akt inhibition or GTPCH I knockdown on LSS-regulated GTPCH I protein expression in late EPCs ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ; ^# vs. LSS+EPC group, per group). (d, e) Quantitative analyses of the effects of Akt inhibition or GTPCH I knockdown on LSS-regulated intracellular BH4 (d) and NO (e) levels in late EPCs ( vs. EPCs under static condition group, ; ^# vs. LSS+EPC group, per group). Least significant difference was applied for the post hoc test in statistical analysis. Concentration of LY 294002: 10 μmol/l. LSS = laminar shear stress.

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