Figure 7. Effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibition on NaCl-induced vascular endothelial growth factor A₁₆₅ (VEGF-A₁₆₅) and mature interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) protein levels. A: Effects of COX2 inhibition on NaCl-induced increases of the extracellular level of VEGF-A₁₆₅ protein and (B) the cytosolic IL-1ß protein level. The cells were stimulated for 24 (A) and 6 h (B) with high (+ 100 mM) NaCl in the absence and presence of the COX2 antagonist NS-398 (50 µM) and the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide (Triam; 50 µM), respectively. Vehicle control was made with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 1:1,000). The protein levels in the cultured media (A) and in the cell lysates (B) were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each bar represents data obtained in three to five independent experiments with cell lines from different donors. Each experiment was performed with cell lines from four to five donors. Statistically significant difference versus unstimulated control (100%): *p<0.05. Statistically significant difference versus NaCl control: ●p<0.05.