2.2. Cell culture and treatment

Mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS cells, ATCC) were seeded into 6‐well plates in routine Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% foetal bovine serum for 24 hours, and then the culture medium was changed to 0.1% serum medium. VSMCs were pre‐treated with 20(R/S)‐Rg3 (25 μmol/L, dissolved in 0.1% DMSO; Felton, China) in the presence or absence of GW9662 (3 μmol/L; Selleck, USA) for 1 hour, and then stimulated with AGEs (100 μg/mL; Biovision, USA) for 48 hours. An equal volume of DMSO was added to the controls. For all data shown, each individual experiment represents an independent preparation of VSMCs.