Fig. 4

Involvement of AMPK in the effects of DEL-1 on ER stress, VEGF expression, and apoptosis in hRPE cells. A Western blot analysis of phosphorylated AMPK, CAMKK2 and LKB1 in hRPE cells treated with DEL-1 (0–1 μg/mL) for 24 h. B Western blot analysis of phosphorylated eIF2α, CHOP, and VEGF in AMPK siRNA-transfected hRPE cells treated with tunicamycin (1 μg/mL) and/or DEL-1 (1 μg/mL) for 24 h. C Cell viability and caspase 3 activity assay in AMPK siRNA-transfected hRPE cells treated with tunicamycin (2 μg/mL) and/or DEL-1 (1 μg/mL) for 24 h. Means ± SDs were calculated from three independent experiments in in vitro models. *P < 0.05 compared with the control. ^!P < 0.05 compared with tunicamycin (1 or 2 μg/mL) treatment. ^#P < 0.05 compared with tunicamycin (1 or 2 μg/mL) and DEL-1 treatment