Figure 5

Ag-NP inhibits the VEGF-and IL-1β-induced endothelial cell permeability. PRECs were grown to confluent monolayers on porous membranes and were incubated with various concentration of Ag-NP with either 25 ng/ml VEGF(A) or 10 ng/ml IL-1β (B), and the flux of RITC-dextran from the upper to the lower chamber was measured 6 h after the treatment. Ag-NP were added 30 min prior to VEGF and IL-1β treatments. Pre-treatment with Ag-NP reduced the VEGF-and IL-1β-induced permeability to the level of control (0.5% serum) in a dose dependent fashion. Values are expressed in relative fluorescence counts (RFCs) as means ± SEM, with each condition performed at least in triplicate (n = 3,* P < 0.05 vs VEGF and IL-1β treatment, **P < 0.01 vs VEGF and IL-1β treatment).