Fig. 2

The effect of NE on apoptosis, inflammation and activation of pVICs. A TUNEL assay was used to value apoptosis of pVICs treated with HNE for 24 h. Scar bar = 100 µm. B MTT assay detection of proliferation in pVICs treated with NE for 24 h. C–E Western blot analysis of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression. F, G RT-qPCR detection of RUNX2, α-SMA, Collagen I, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression in pVICs treated with NE for 12, 24 and 48 h. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs Blank group. NS meant no significant difference. The measurement data are expressed as the mean ± SD. All experiments were independently repeated three times