Figure 3.

ORFV2-VEGF binds VEGFR-2 and activates a VEGFR-2 specific bioassay. Purified ORFV2-VEGF was tested for its ability to induce proliferation of Ba/F3 cells expressing a chimeric VEGFR-2. Bioassay cells were washed free of IL-3 and resuspended in dilutions of the ORFV2-VEGF, purified mouse VEGF₁₆₄, or medium alone for 48 h at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 10% CO₂. DNA synthesis was quantitated by [³H]thymidine incorporation and β counting. Values are expressed as mean ± SD and are representative of four experiments.