Activation Assay: Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.) and were cultured as previously described.20 The cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) overnight in 96 well plates (Costar). Cells were washed gently three times with HEPES-carbonated buffer (137 mM NaCl, 3 mM KCl, 12 mM NaHCO3, 14.7 mM HEPES, 5.5 mM Glucose, 0.1% Gelatin, 2 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 7.1 pH, 37° C.) between each incubation step. Gelatin blocking buffer (1% Gelatin) was prepared by adding appropriate amount of 5% gelatin stock to HEPES-carbonated buffer as described above. In the first step, gelatin blocking buffer was used to reduce the non specific binding. As part of this step, the cells were incubated with 1% gelatin buffer for 1 hour.