Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 exacerbates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting UNC-51-like kinase 1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy

Figure 4 Effect of microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 knockdown on mitophagy and mitochondrial membrane potentials in cardiomyocytes stimulated with high glucose and palmitic acid. A and B: Western blotting and quantification of microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 knockdown efficiency; C-G: Western blotting and quantification of p62, Parkin, Beclin1, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B proteins; H: Mitophagy in the groups (scale bar: 2 μm); I: Changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential (scale bar: 50 μm); J: Analysis of mitophagy via electron microscopy; K: Statistical analysis of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Values are mean ± SD (n = 4). ^aP < 0.05, and ^bP < 0.01. ShRNA: Small hairpin RNA; MARK4: Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Con: Control; LC3B: Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B; sh: Small hairpin; HG: High glucose; NC: Negative control.