Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 11 pp 14892—14909

Figure 3. CDK9 inhibitor reduces HFD-induced inflammation phenotype switch of VSMCs in vivo. (A) TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels in the serum were detected using ELISA assay (n = 8; ^###p < 0.001 compared to STD; ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01 compared to HFD). (B) TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA levels in the aorta were detected using real-time qPCR assay (n = 8; ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 compared to STD; ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01 compared to HFD). (C–D) Western blot assay showed the expressions of α-SMA, Vimentin and PCNA in the whole aorta from ApoE^-/- fed a normal (STD) or HFD for 16 weeks. Densitometric quantification for blots was shown in panel D (n = 8; ^##p < 0.01 compared to STD; ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01 compared to HFD). (E) Representative immunofluorescence staining images for Vimentin (green) in aortic roots. Tissues were counterstained with DAPI (blue) (scale bar = 500 μm). (F) Representative images of PCNA staining of aortic roots (scale bar = 500 μm; DAB chromogen staining (brown)).