Figure 3. VEGF can partially rescue the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of lovastatin.

A and B, HUVEC and H28 cell proliferation was measured with a cell viability assay following either control or 0.5–5 µM 72 hr lovastatin treatments with or without 50 ng/ml VEGF₁₆₅. VEGF₁₆₅ stimulated control cells to proliferate, however, higher doses of lovastatin inhibited the proliferative effects of VEGF₁₆₅. The data were normalized to untreated (media alone) cells (representing 100%) and are representative of 4 independent experiments. C, Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometric analysis of HUVEC following either control or 1 and 2 µM 72 hr lovastatin treatments with or without 50 ng/ml VEGF₁₆₅. Results demonstrated that lovastatin was preventing the apoptotic inhibitory effects of VEGF₁₆₅ at higher doses (2 µM). The data is typical of 2 independent experiments.