Molecular mechanisms of AGE/RAGE-mediated fibrosis in the diabetic heart

Figure 2 siRNA Rap1a knockdown in diabetic cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from age-matched 16 wk-old db/wt (non-diabetic) and db/db (diabetic) mice and using siRNA targeted to Rap1a silenced transcription and translation of Rap1a resulting in noticeable decreases not only in Rap1a expression, but also the downstream signaling outcomes RAGE, collagen I, phospho-PKC-ζ and α-SMA protein expression. RAGE: The receptor for the advanced glycation end product; PKC-ζ: The ζ isotype of protein kinase C; α-SMA: α-smooth muscle actin; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.