Figure 5.

Slit2 attenuated TNF-α-induced increases in VEGF and Notch expression. (A) VEGF, Notch1 and Notch2 protein expression, as determined by western blotting. (B) VEGF, Notch1 and Notch2 mRNA expression, as determined by polymerase chain reaction. Rat aortic endothelial cells were treated with 10 ng/ml TNF- for 48 h, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF, Notch1 and Notch2 were detected. TNF-α induced VEGF, Notch1 and Notch2 overexpression was inhibited by Slit2 administration. *P<0.05 vs. control group; ▲P<0.05 vs. TNF-α group; ♦P<0.05 vs. 25 ng/ml Slit2 group; ▼P<0.05 vs. 50 ng/ml Slit2 group. TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; Slit2, Slit homolog 2.