Fig. 7

CDC42 was involved in SDF-1α expression in VSMC and CXCR4 expression in Sca-1+ stem cells mediated by Meox1. The aim of the experiment was to explore possible molecular mechanisms of Meox1-induced SDF-1α expression in VSMC and CXCR4 expression in HUCSCs, using RhoA inhibitor CCG1423, CDC42 blocker ZCL278, or Rac1 inhibitor Azathioprine. A, B Overexpressing Meox1 (Ad-Meox1) increased SDF-1α expressions while knockdown of Meox1 by shRNA (Ad-shMeox1) in VSMCs transfected with treatment of Ad-Meox1 or Ad-shMeox1 for 3 days as determined by western blot (A) and semi-quantitative analysis (B). Three independent experiments were performed, n = 3, *P < 0.05 vs. VSMC transfected with Ad-Null; ^#P < 0.05 vs. VSMCs transfected with Ad-Meox1. C, D The SDF-1α expressions in VSMCs transfected with Ad-Meox1, following the addition of RhoA inhibitor CCG1423, CDC42 blocker ZCL278, or Rac1 inhibitor Azathioprine, as determined by western blot (C) and semi-quantitative analysis (D). Three independent experiments were performed, n = 3, *P < 0.05 vs. VSMCs transfected with Ad-Null; ^#P < 0.05 vs. VSMCs transfected with Ad-Meox1. E, F CXCR4 expressions in HUCSCs transfected with Ad-Meox1 for 24 h, following the addition of CCG1423, or Azathioprine for 48 h, as determined by western blot (E) and semi-quantitative analysis (F). Three independent experiments were performed, n = 3, *P < 0.05 vs. HUCSCs treated with Ad-Null; ^#P < 0.05 vs. HUCSCs treated with Ad-Meox1; ^&P < 0.05 vs. Ad-Meox1-transfected HUCSCs treated with CDC42 blocker ZCL278