Fig. 7

Metformin regulated the function of VSMCs through mediating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/autophagy pathway. The effect of metformin on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy associated proteins in Ang-II-induced VSMCs were explored by qRT-PCR (a) and Western blot (b). Rat abdominal aortic SMCs were firstly treated with the PI3K inhibitors (20 mM) and PI3K agonists (25 mM) for 24 h in these experiments, respectively