FIGURE 2.

OxLDL modulates migration and ECM adhesive properties of AoSMC. A, evaluation of AoSMC migration ability by scratch assay. AoSMC were serum-deprived (0.2% FBS) for 48 h and scratched with a pipette tip, and new complete medium was added with or without (CNT) 20 μg of nLDL, oxLDL, or oxLDL + 1 mm 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU). The migration was followed up to 24 h, and the mobility rate was calculated with respect to time 0 for each treatment as the percentage of the repopulated area with respect to the starting scratched area, using the ImageJ software. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments, ** p < 0.01. B, U937 monocyte adhesion assays were done on AoSMC alone or treated with 20 μg of oxLDL. After 48 h, fluorescent U937 cells were added for 20 min at 37 °C, washed, and counted under a fluorescence microscope. As control, cells were treated with hyaluronidase. The experiments were repeated three times. Results are expressed as number of adherent U937 cells per field and are shown as mean ± S.E., ***, p < 0.001.