Fig. 3From: Puerarin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation induced by fine particulate matter via suppressing of the p38 MAPK signaling pathwayEffect of puerarin on VSMCs proliferation. VSMCs viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. a Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of PM2.5 (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L) for 24 h. b Cells were stimulated with 200 mg/L PM2.5 for the different time points (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 h). c Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of puerarin (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 μM) for 24 h. d Cells were pre-treated with puerarin at different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50 μM) or p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (20 μM) for 1 h and followed by the addition of 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h. VSMCs proliferation was measured according to the BrdU immunofluorescence. e Confocal images. a, the untreated cells; b, cells were stimulated with 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h; c, cells were pre-treated with 12.5 μM puerarin for 1 h and followed by the addition of 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h; d, cells were pre-treated with 25 μM puerarin for 1 h and followed by the addition of 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h; e, cells were pre-treated with 50 μM puerarin for 1 h and followed by the addition of 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h; f, cells were pre-treated with 50 μM puerarin and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (20 μM) for 1 h and followed by the addition of 200 mg/L PM2.5 for 24 h. Bars = 100 μm. f Graphs of BrdU positive ratios. The results are presented as mean ± SEM. n = 3. Compared to the untreated cells, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; compared to 200 mg/L PM2.5 group, #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01; compared to the co-incubation of puerarin with SB203580 group, ▲P < 0.05, ▲▲P < 0.01Back to article page