Figure 1

Low oxygen tension stimulates wound closure induced by EPO and its analogues in a scratch assay model in BAECs. EPO and its analogues (CEPO and pHBSP) enhanced wound closure in BAECs when incubated in 5% oxygen for 24 h (acute) and when incubated in 5% oxygen for 1 wk prior to injury and 24 h after injury (chronic) but not under 21% oxygen at a concentration of 1 ng/mL. The scrambled peptide (scr-pHBSP) showed no effect on wound closure in BAECs under 21% and 5% oxygen. Results are expressed as % wound healing after 24 h. Each data point represent the mean value ± SEM (n = 6), *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.01. Representative examples of the scratch assay images with the scratch area outlined under 21% and acute 5% oxygen for untreated cells and cells treated with EPO or its analogues are also shown (lower panel).