Fig. 7
Quercetin enhances autophagy of ox-LDL-induced macrophages. A Representative transmission electron microscope photographs of mouse RAW264.7 macrophages in the context of ox-LDL treatment with or without quercetin (Que) treatment. Scale bar, 500 nm. The arrows point to the autophagosomes. B–D RT-qPCR analysis of Bcl2, LC3 and Beclin1 mRNA expression in ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages with or without quercetin treatment. E Representative western blots of Bcl2, LC3II/I and Beclin1 in ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages with or without quercetin administration. F–H Quantification of Bcl2, LC3II/I and Beclin1 expression in the above macrophages. I–K RT-qPCR analysis of Bcl2, LC3 and Beclin1 mRNA expression in ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages with transfection of si-SERPINE1 or si-NC or/and treatment of quercetin. L Representative western blots of Bcl2, LC3II/I and Beclin1 in ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages in the context of si-SERPINE1 or si-NC transfection or/and quercetin treatment. M–O Quantification of Bcl2, LC3II/I and Beclin1 expression in the above macrophages. P Representative western blots of AMPK, p-AMPK, mTOR, and p-mTOR in ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages in the context of si-SERPINE1 or si-NC transfection or/and quercetin treatment. Q, R Quantification of p-AMPK/AMPK and p-mTOR/mTOR levels in the above macrophages. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001