Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 17 pp 7021—7035
Reduced NRF2 expression suppresses endothelial progenitor cell function and induces senescence during aging
Figure 4. Effects of altered NRF2 expression on EPC survival and function. (A) Nrf2 expression with or without knockdown of Nrf2 in young cells. EPC function was evaluated by a scratch wound-healing assay (B), Transwell assay (C), EdU assay (D), tube formation assay (E) and secretion assay (F) in young cells treated with negative control siRNA (siNC) and Nrf2 siRNA (siNrf2). (G) NRF2 expression with and without NRF2 overexpression in aged cells, with parallel results from a scratch wound-healing assay (H), Transwell assay (I), EdU assay (J), tube formation assay (K) and secretion assay (L) conducted in aged cells that were untreated or treated with tBHQ. *P<0.05. Y, young; MA, middle-aged; A, aged. A+tBHQ, aged EPCs treated with tBHQ. Scale bar: 20 μm.