Figure 5From: The rhythmic expression of clock genes attenuated in human plaque-derived vascular smooth muscle cellsCircadian expression of Per2, Cry1 and Rev-erbα at mRNA levels in primary cultured VSMCs. (A) Circadian expression of Per2 mRNA in normal human carotid VSMCs and human plaque-derived VSMCs. (B) Circadian expression of Cry1 mRNA in normal human carotid VSMCs and human plaque-derived VSMCs. (C) Circadian expression of Rev-erbα mRNA in normal human carotid VSMCs and human plaque-derived VSMCs. The mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR at the indicated time points after the serum shock. Values of Per2, Cry1 and Rev-erbα mRNA were normalized to GAPDH mRNA. The signal levels at ZT0 of normal human carotid VSMCs were defined as 1. Each value represents the mean ± SD (n1 = 7 of normal human carotid VSMCs; n2 = 21 of human plaque-derived VSMCs). The differences of expression levels were assessed by unpaired Student’s t test. *p < 0.05 in normal human carotid VSMCs versus human plaque-derived VSMCs. **p < 0.01 in normal human carotid VSMCs versus human plaque-derived VSMCs.Back to article page