Bcl-2 expression on primary leukemias, leukemic cell lines, and HL-60 cells.

(A) VEGF induces Bcl-2 expression on primary leukemias and leukemic cell lines. Cells were left untreated or stimulated with VEGF (50 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Total protein extracts were obtained and Bcl-2/Bax was detected by Western blotting (see “Materials and methods” for details). Western blotting results were quantified by densitometry and are shown as the ratio between densitometry values in treated versus untreated (control) cells. Each experiment was repeated 3 times, and the SD between the different ratios was calculated and is shown. (B) VEGF induces, in a dose-dependent manner, Bcl-2 expression on HL-60 cells. As a control for protein loading, β-actin levels are also shown.