Fig. 3

Upregulated EZH2 represses SMC apoptosis by blocking the RIG-I signaling pathway activation. A The expression of RIG-I in aortic tissues of control or AAA mice treated with oe-EZH2 and oe-NC detected by RT-qPCR. B Western blot analysis of RIG-I protein in aortic tissues of control or AAA mice treated with oe-EZH2 and oe-NC. C Western blot analysis of p-TBK1 and p-IRF3 proteins in aortic tissues of control or AAA mice treated with oe-EZH2 and oe-NC. D The interaction between RIG-I and EZH2 in SMCs assessed using Co-IP assay. WCL whole cell lysis. E Western blot analysis of RIG-I, p-TBK1 and p-IRF3 proteins in SMCs with oe-EZH2 or sh-EZH2. F Cell apoptosis in Ang II-induced SMCs co-treated with Ang II, oe-EZH2 and oe-RIG-I, or oe-NC measured by flow cytometry. β-actin served as internal reference of RIG-I and p-TBK1 *p < 0.05 indicates significant difference. Data in A–C and E were compared using unpaired t-test and in F by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc tests. n = 6 for mice following each treatment. Cell experiments were repeated three times independently