Figure 4

Inhibition of FAK and MAPK abrogates the pro-inflammatory response in MSCs exposed to FaDU CM. (a) The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway was among the top upregulated pathways in MSCs exposed to FaDu CM. (b) The list of differentially expressed genes in the FAK pathway in MSCs exposed to FaDu CM. (c) Pharmacological inhibition of FAK (5 μM, PF-573228, Sigma) or MAPKK (5 μM, PD98059, Sigma) led to significant inhibition of the pro-inflammatory response in MSCs exposed to FaDu CM. (d) Quantification of a representative set of genes in the cytokine and inflammatory response pathway in MSCs exposed to FaDu CM in the presence of DMSO, FAK, or MAPKK inhibitors. Data are presented as percent change in gene expression relative to MSCs exposed to FaDu CM + DMSO. Data are presented as mean ± S.D. n = 3. CM, conditioned media; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide, FAK, focal adhesion kinase; MAPKK, mitogen activated protein kinase kinase; MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells.