Fig. 3.

COX-2 expression and PGI-2 release induced by HDL were inhibited by GF109203X or PD98059 in HUVECs. a–c Cells were washed and pretreated with PBS or the PKC inhibitor GF109203X (10 μmol/L) for 1 h, and then stimulated without or with 120 μg/ml HDL for 8 h. The expression of COX-2 was assayed by Western blot analysis (a), relative protein expression of COX-2 was normalized to GAPDH (b), and the production of PGI-2 was determined by competitive ELISA (c). d, e Cells were washed and pretreated with PBS or the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (10 μmol/L) for 1 h, and then stimulated without or with 120 μg/ml HDL for 8 h. The expression of COX-2 was assayed by Western blot analysis (d), relative protein expression of COX-2 was normalized to GAPDH (e), and the production of PGI-2 was determined by competitive ELISA (f). Data were mean ± SE from three separate experiments. *P < 0.05 versus Control group