PTEN overexpression augments SMC apoptosis under basal conditions as well as following exposure to oxidative stress.

<p>HcASMC transfected with a plasmid carrying WT-PTEN or a control (empty) vector and PTEN protein-expression levels were determined by immunoblotting (<b>A</b>). SMC were incubated in basal medium (<b>B</b>) and in basal medium supplemented with H₂O₂ (<b>C</b>) and the relative number of apoptotic cells was evaluated following TUNEL-staining (expressed as % of total cells; *<i>P</i><0.001; n = 6). HcASMC were transfected as follows: non transfected (NT); transfected with an empty plasmid without PTEN-cDNA (pControl); transfected with a plasmid coding for PTEN (pPTEN).