Fig 2: Effect of CSE overexpression on TGF-ß1-induced EndMT in HPAECs. HPAECs were transfected with a vector or CSE plasmid and stimulated with TGF-ß1 (10 ng/ml) for 24 h in the presence of PAG (2 mM) or saline. These cells were harvested to investigate the changes in the NF-?B-Snail pathway. Some cells were subsequently stimulated with TGF-ß1 (10 ng/ml) for an additional 9 days to estimate the process of EndMT. Expression of EndMT markers, VE-cadherin and a-SMA and signal molecules were examined using (A) western blotting and (B) immunofluorescent staining. Red fluorescence represents VE-cadherin, green fluorescence represents a-SMA and blue fluorescence represents DAPI nuclei staining. Scale bar=50 µm. (C) The ultrastructure of HPAECs was assessed using TEM. White arrows indicate caveolae. Black arrows indicate WPB. Black triangles indicate microfilaments in the cytoplasm. (D) Expression of Snail, phospho-I?Ba and I?Ba were measured using western blot analysis. (E) p65 DNA binding activity in nuclear extracts were measured as described in the materials and methods. The data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean of at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05 vs. control group; #P<0.05 vs. TGF-ß1-stimulated HPAECs transfected with vector; &P<0.05 vs. TGF-ß1-stimulated HPAECs transfected with CSE plasmid. CSE, cystathionine ?-lyase; EndMT, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition; DAPI, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; HPAEC, human pulmonary artery endothelial cells; PAG, DL-propagylglycine; WPB, Weibel-Palade bodies; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; TGF, transforming growth factor; NF, nuclear factor; phospho, phosphorylated; VE, vascular endothelial.

Fig 3: SCU can down-regulate Hcy levels in type 2 diabetic rats. (A) The levels of serum Hcy. (B) Western blot detection of CSE, CBS, MTHFR and MTR. (C) Immunohistochemistry results of CSE, CBS, MTHFR and MTR. A. normal group; B. model group; C. SCU low dose treatment group; D. SCU high dose treatment group; E. Rosiglitazone treatment group. (D) The level of Serum VitB6, VitB12 and folic acid. #Represents the statistically significant difference from the normal group (p < 0.05), *Represents the statistically significant difference from the model group (p < 0.05).