Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 and the HIV-1 Tat Protein Synergize in Promoting Bcl-2 Expression and Preventing Endothelial Cell Apoptosis: Implications for the Pathogenesis of AIDS-Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma

Figure 2

Induction of Bcl-2 protein expression by FGF-2 and/or Tat in human primary endothelial cells. HUVECs were cultured in the presence of Tat (10 ng/mL) and/or FGF-2 (1 ng/mL). HUVECs treated with the protein suspension buffer (PBS-0.1% BSA) were used as controls. After 24 hours of culture, HUVECs were lysed, and equal amounts of total proteins were electrophoresed and analysed by Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies directed against human Bcl-2. Blots were reprobed with anti-𝛽 actin monoclonal antibodies to verify equal loading of protein in each lane. In the upper panel a representative Western blot for Bcl-2 protein is shown. In the lower panel is its densitometric analysis, which is presented as the Bcl-2 to 𝛽 actin ratio. Repeated experiments (two) gave similar results.