Figure 6

Effects of CCN2 on proliferation of VECs and LECs and lymphangiogenesis-correlated gene expression under hypoxia. The number of murine VECs [passage 6, n = 5; (a)] and LECs [passage 6, n = 5; (b)] cultured with and without CCN2 (CCN2 group and control group, respectively) under hypoxia after 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation. Cellular proliferation was assessed by the MTS assay. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard error. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. ns not significant. (c–f) Changes in expression of Vegfc (c), Vegfr3 (d), Tgfβ1 (e), and Hif1α (f) in LECs cultured with and without CCN2 (CCN2 group and control group, respectively) under hypoxia. Gapdh was used as an internal control, and gene expression levels were expressed relative to Gapdh mRNA. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard error, n = 3/group. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. CCN2 cellular communication network factor 2, LECs lymphatic endothelial cells, VECs vascular endothelial cells.