Fig. 11

Inhibition of p38 and ERK has the same effect as that caused by MSCs co-cultured with macrophages stimulated with LPS. Macrophages were transfected with plasmids as described in the Methods section to evaluate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NF-κB. Macrophages were treated with the p38 inhibitor SB203580 and the ERK inhibitor U0126 and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The induction fold was determined and the luciferase activity was normalized to the β-galactosidase activity. LPS-induced (a) COX-2 and (b) NF-κB upregulation was reduced by the p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and the ERK inhibitor (U0126) at 24 and 48 h. We did not observe any synergistic effect when both inhibitors were administered at the same time. Data represent the mean ± SEM, n = 5. ^### p < 0.001, versus corresponding untreated controls; ***p < 0.001, versus the LPS-only group