Figure 3.

UFH inhibits LPS-induced downregulation of EPCR expression in HUVECs. HUVECs were treated with various concentrations of UFH for 15 min prior to exposure to 10 µg/ml LPS. (A) Levels of EPCR mRNA following LPS induction were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the values were normalized to that of the control group. The levels of EPCR protein were detected by western blot analysis at (B) 6, (C) 12, (D) 24 and (E) 48 h post LPS exposure. *P<0.05 vs. the control group; ^#P<0.05 vs. the LPS group. UFH, unfractionated heparin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; EPCR, endothelial protein C receptor; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells.