VEGF does not stimulate PKCβ gene expression in normal B cells. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of PKCβ mRNA levels in CLL (n = 6) and normal peripheral B cells (n = 3) incubated in the presence and absence of 100 ng/mL VEGF for 24 hours and compared with control uncultured cells. The PKCβ mRNA levels are reported relative to β-actin mRNA levels in the same cell in arbitrary units. (Inset) RT-PCR analysis of VEGF-R2 expression in normal B cells and in an endothelial cell line (EAhy926; top panel) and Western blot analysis of VEGF-R2 protein expression in CLL- and normal B-cell lysates (equal amounts of protein were loaded onto the gel).