Increases in EPCR mRNA levels in endothelial cells in culture by thrombin and murine protease-activated receptor 1.

Rat aortic endothelial cells were maintained in serum-free media for 24 hours and were then treated with 0.1, 1, or 10 U/mL of bovine thrombin, 10 μmol/L of murine protease-activated receptor (mPAR) 1 peptide, and 10 μmol/L of mPAR2 peptide for 6 hours. (A) Total RNA was extracted and 15 μg of the RNA was analyzed by Northern blotting and compared with CHO-B mRNA levels. (B) The changes in the mRNA levels were quantitated with a PhosphorImager on the basis of the increase in the ratio of the EPCR intensity to the CHO-B intensity.