Fig. 6

BMP2 enhances cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic ability via the MARK/p38 signaling pathway. The MARK/p38 signaling pathway was inhibited by SB-239063 when BMP2 was over-expressed to identify the functional significance of MARK/p38 signaling pathway activation in the regulatory effects of BMP2 on ECV304 cell angiogenic ability. a Proliferation of ECV304 cells evaluated by MTT assay. b VEGF content in the supernatant of medium tested by ELISA. c Migration of ECV304 cells measured by Transwell assay (× 400). d Angiogenic ability of ECV304 cells by tube formation assay (× 200). e Expression of angiogenesis- (VEGF and VEGF-C) and invasion-related (MMP-2, MMP-9, Vimentin, and E-cadherin) proteins measured by Western blot analysis. Data were expressed by mean ± standard deviation, and data between two groups were compared by Student’s t test. *p < 0.05. HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; NC, negative control; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H_tetrazolium bromide; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay