Figure 3.

VEGF release is higher from VAT of obese subjects correlating with induction of VSMC proliferation. (a) VEGF content of CM from VAT and SAT was measured in duplicates by ELISA. (b and d) VSMC were treated with CM from paired SAT and VAT of lean nondiabetic (ND), obese ND, and obese type 2 diabetes (Diab) patients for 24 h. For (d), VSMC were treated in the presence or absence of a VEGF-neutralizing antibody. VSMC proliferation was determined by measuring the incorporation of BrdU into DNA. Data are expressed relative to the basal control value, which was set as 100%. Data are presented as mean ± SEM from five independent experiments. For (d), all data were normalized to the level of actin expression and are expressed relative to the control *P < 0.05 compared to control or designated data. For (d), lanes were excised from a single western blot and displayed in the presented order. (c) The proliferative effect of CM from VAT correlates significantly with its VEGF content as measured by ELISA. Statistical result of linear regression analysis is indicated in the graph.