Expression and activity of mTOR in pulmonary arteries from HPH rats and PASMCs under hypoxia.

<p>(A-B) Dual immunofluorescence analysis with anti-p-mTOR (red), anti-mTOR (red) and anti-SMA antibodies (green) in lung tissue specimens in rats. Images were acquired with an Olympus BX51 microscope, scale bars = 100um. (C) The mRNA expression of mTOR was determined by real-time PCR in primary PASMCs. (D) The expression and phosphorylation of mTOR proteins was determined by western blot in PASMCs. Control: cells were treated with 21% O₂ for 48 h. Hypoxia: cells were treated with 3% O₂ for 48 h. Data represent fold changes in p-mTOR/β-actin protein ratios. Data are means ±S.E.M. **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. control; ***<i>P</i><0.001 vs. control.