Figure legends
Figure 1. VPA-treatment down-regulates ACE-2 and inflammatory molecule expression in ECs. HUVECs or HCAECs were treated with either diluent or 5, 10 or 20 mM of VPA and total RNA were extracted 24-hours post-treatment. QPCR data demonstrating reduced ACE-2 expression in VPA-treated (A, C) HUVECs and (B) HCAECs. VPA-treatment (5mM) also reduced IL-6 (D) and ICAM-1(E) expression in HUVECs. N = 3-4 in triplicates. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, **p<0.001 vs.corresponding diluent control group.
Figure 2. Schematic representing VPA-associated mechanisms in ECs to prevent and protect against COVID-19. VPA-treatment reduces ACE-2 expression, which is a SARS-CoV-2 receptor on EC. VPA also reduces inflammatory IL-6 expression along with endothelial activation marker ICAM-1, which will reduce thrombosis. VPA-induced T-PA expression will further protect against thrombosis, overall reducing SARS-CoV-2 rate of infection, SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation and thrombosis to reduce pneumonia, lung failure and deaths in COVID-19 patients.