Research Paper

Figure 6. Blocking the AMPK signaling pathway can inhibit vascular inflammation induced by extracellular histones. (A) Mice were treated with saline (n = 18), histones (n = 18), or histones + BML-275 (n = 18) for 24 h. Double immunofluorescence staining was used to measure the expression of ASC and NLRP3 in the blood vessels (green, ASC; red, NLRP3; blue, DAPI). Bar = 100 μm. (B) Quantitative analysis of the fluorescence intensity of ASC and NLRP3 from (A). (C) RT-qPCR was performed to determine IL-β and TNF-α expressions in the mice treated as stated above. (D) Double immunofluorescence staining was performed to measure the expression of FOXO4 and p21 in the blood vessels (green, FOXO4; red, p21; blue, DAPI). Bar = 100 μm. (E) Quantitative analysis of the fluorescence intensity of FOXO4 and p21 from (A). (F) RT-qPCR was performed to determine p16, p21, and p53 expressions in the mice treated as stated above. For (B, D, E and F), data are from three independent experiments; mean ± SEM; Student's t-test, ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, and ^***P < 0.001 vs. the corresponding control.