Fig. 1

Effect of Klotho on cellular viability in HUVECs. Cells were exposed to various concentrations of ox-LDL (25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml) for 24 h. a HUVEC morphology was observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope (×10) following 24 h of ox-LDL treatment. Typical cellular fragmentations, vacuoles, and debris are arrowed. (Bar = 50 μm) (b) Cellular viability was detected by MTT assay. c and d SOD enzymatic activity and MDA levels in HUVECs were analyzed using commercially available assay kits. e HUVECs were pretreated with 100, 200, 400, and 800 pM of Klotho for 1 h, and then incubated with ox-LDL (50 μg/ml) for 24 h. Cellular viability was detected by MTT assay. Data are shown as mean ± S.D. (n = 3). Statistical differences are expressed as ^## p < 0.01 vs. control, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. ox-LDL