Figure 7.
Extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB inhibitors suppressed S100A9-induced cellular proliferation and cytokines expression. Cells were incubated with S100A9 in the presence or obsence of PD98059 (50 μm) or SB203580 (10 μm) or BAY11-7082 (2 μm). (a) Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit (CCK)-8. (b) The mRNA levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). (c) Culture supernatants were harvested 24 h later and cytokines in the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (d) Cell lysates were collected, and protein levels of α-small muscle actin (SMA) and receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) were analysed by Western blot. The intensity of each protein were normalized to β-actin loading control and then compared to control. The mean values ± standard deviation were averages of triplicate experiments. *P < 0·05; **P < 0·01.