Figure 5

VEGF enhances the proliferation rate of HIMEC in vitro. VEGF-induced HIMEC proliferation was assessed by ³H thymidine uptake. 4 × 10⁴ HIMEC/well were stimulated for 12 hr with increasing concentrations of VEGF (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml) and pulsed for 6 hr with 1 μCi/ml ³H thymidine. ³H thymidine uptake in total cell lysates was measured in a β-counter. left; VEGF enhanced HIMEC proliferation at 50 ng/ml while low concentrations (i.e. 10 ng/ml VEGF) did not. right; The inhibitory effects of PD098059, CsA and NS398 but not SB203580 on VEGF (50 ng/ml) induced proliferation response in HIMEC. HIMEC pre-incubation with PD098059, CsA and NS398 significantly inhibited VEGF induced proliferation response in HIMEC. All conditions were assessed in triplicate, and data are expressed as percent of control ³H thymidine uptake (0 ng/ml VEGF) ± S.E. *, p < 0.05 versus control.