Glycer-AGEs-RAGE signaling enhances the angiogenic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating VEGF expression

Figure 4 Effect of glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end-products on the angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. A and B: Hep3B and HepG2 cells were incubated with control unglycated bovine serum albumin (BSA) or glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end-products (Glycer-AGEs) for 24 h. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression was analyzed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions, and results were normalized to the β-actin mRNA level; C and D: Hep3B and HepG2 cells were incubated with control unglycated BSA or Glycer-AGEs for 24 or 48 h. The conditioned medium was collected, and VEGF expression levels of the cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The open and filled bars represent results for cells treated with control unglycated BSA and Glycer-AGEs, respectively. Data are shown as the mean ± SD (n = 3), ^bP < 0.01 vs control unglycated BSA.