PTGS2 and hereditary elliptocytosis: The levels of VEGFa and COX2 proteins in the VEGF signaling pathway were tested by western blotting, and the level of VEGFa was found to be higher in the HC group than in the NC group, while the levels of VEGF and COX2 in the HE group were significantly higher than those in the HC group (P < 0.05) (Fig. 4b).