Fig. 1

Effect of autophagy on CSE-induced endothelial apoptosis in HUVECs. HUVECs were incubated with 2.5% CSE for 24 h. To examine the effects of autophagy on HUVEC apoptosis, the cells were cultured for 2 h in the presence or absence of 5 mM 3-MA or 50 nM Rapa prior to CSE intervention. Autophagy related proteins (LC3b-I/II, Beclin1, p62, mTOR) and apoptotic protein (cleaved caspase3) were detected by Western blot. β-Actin was used as loading control (a). Bar charts show the quantification of LC3B-II/LC3b-I, Beclin1, P62, mTOR and cleaved caspase3. Values are presented as means ± SD (b, c, d, e, f). Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (g) and statistical analysis was calculated using One-way ANOVA (h). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared between the marked groups