Fig. 2.

Palmitate dose dependently increased cyclooxygenase-2 total protein levels in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoVSM). A: representative Western blot of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels in HAoVSM treated with vehicle (5% BSA), 50 µM palmitate, or 100 µM palmitate for 18 h. B: summary of the Western blot analysis for COX-2 band intensity normalized to β-actin band intensity (loading control) and expressed as a ratio vs. vehicle. A subseptic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 ng/ml) was used to observe the caliber of low-grade endotoxin-induced COX-2 levels in HAoVSM. Values are expressed as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. vehicle; n = 4/group.