MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion by an MMEC and a HUVEC sample. (A) SDS-PAGE zymography of the cell CM. Note the white bands against a blue background with an apparent molecular weight of 62 kDa and 88 kDa, corresponding to the gelatinolytic regions of activated (cleaved) MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively. (B) The intensity of the bands is evaluated as optical density (OD) units by the Fluorad in 16 MMEC and 12 HUVEC samples. Significance by analysis of variance by Fisher and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Duncan [t], Bonferroni [t], and Wilcoxon paired tests. (C) The same conditioned media were evaluated for VEGF and bFGF levels by an ELISA system. Significance by the same paired tests. Data shown in B and C are mean ± one SD. (D) Western blot for phosphorylated (p) forms of 42-kDa ERK-1 and p44 ERK-2 in a representative HUVEC and patient's cells.