Figure 7. 5-MTP prevents smooth muscle marker downregualtion following arterial injury. (A–C) SM α-actin immunostaining (brown) of 2-week-injured femoral arteries. (D–F) Magnified area from boxed area of (A–C), respectively. Dashed lines demarcate media area. Arrows in (E) indicate areas lacking brown staining. med, media; neo, neointima. (G) Primary VSMCs were treated with IL-1β and 5-MTP and then Western performed to detect SM α-actin and CRP2. Quantitation of SM α-actin (H) and CRP2 (I) protein levels (n=3 each; *p<0.004 and #p<0.002). (J) VSMCs were treated with TNF-α and 5-MTP and then Western performed. Quantitation of SM α-actin (K) and CRP2 (L) protein levels (n=3 each; *p<0.01 and #p<0.01).