Involvement of Rho-GTPases in EMP release by thrombin. (A) Effect of fluvastatin on EMP release by 1 IU/mL thrombin. Serum-starved HMEC-1 cells were preincubated for 1 hour with fluvastatin (0.01 μM), washed, and then kept untreated (control) or stimulated for 18 hours with thrombin in presence of identical drug concentrations. (B) Effect of RhoA transfections on EMP level. HMEC-1 cells were either untransfected or transiently transfected with wild type RhoA (WT), inactive ΔDN19RhoA, or empty vector, as described in “Materials and methods.” Two days later, the cells were kept untreated or were stimulated with 1 IU/mL thrombin for the next 18 hours. At the end of the 18-hour stimulation, EMPs were quantified in CCM, as described in “Materials and methods.” Bar graphs in panels A and B show the mean values ± SEM for 3 independent experiments. **P < .01, ***P < .001; NS indicates not significant.