Demethoxycurcumin Preserves Renovascular Function by Downregulating COX-2 Expression in Hypertension

Figure 4

In renal arteries from hypertensive patients ex vivo treatment with DMC for 12 hrs normalizes the altered expression of COX-2 observed by western blot assay and immunofluorescence microscopy. The renal arteries from hypertensive patients exhibited altered COX-2 expression levels by western blot measurement (a) and immunofluorescence microscopy (b). The elevation of COX-2 expression was corrected with the addition of DMC for 12 hrs ((a)-(b)). Yellowish-green autofluorescence represents elastin in the internal and external elastic laminae (b). Higher level of arterial COX-2 expression, suggested by the intense reddish orange color, was reduced by DMC. Photomicrographs are representative images from experiments performed on samples from four to five different patients. The scale bar indicates length (200 μm). Data are means ± SEM of 5-6 experiments. versus NT; versus HT control.

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(b)