Effect of rHuEpo on MMP-2 production in EA.hy926 cells. Subconfluent EA.hy926 cells were cultured for 24 hours in serum free medium in the absence (SFM) or in the presence of the indicated concentrations of rHuEpo. After incubation, the conditioned medium was analyzed by gelatin-zymography as described in Materials and Methods. (A) One representative experiment showing the presence of a Mr 62,000 gelatinolytic band corresponding to activated MMP-2 in the conditioned medium of control (a), 1 U/mL rHuEpo (b), and 2 U/mL rHuEpo (c) treated cells. M, molecular weight markers. (B) Quantitation of MMP-2 activity by computerized image analysis of the gelatinolytic bands. Data are the mean ± SD of eight independent experiments (statistical analysis by Student’s t-test).