Figure 3

Knockdown of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 aggravated inflammatory responses. (A) TIMP-2 protein reduction by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) was confirmed by Western blotting. (B-E) Effects of TIMP-2 knockdown on nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and IL-10 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells. Cells transfected with TIMP-2 siRNA were treated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 16 h, and the amounts of NO, TNF-α, IL-10 released into the media and intracellular ROS level were measured. (F) TIMP-2 knockdown in primary microglia. (G-J) The effects of TIMP-2 knockdown on pro-/anti-inflammatory molecules were confirmed in LPS-stimulated primary microglia. Values are expressed as the means ± S.E.M. for three replicates using different cell cultures. *P <0.05, significantly different from the LPS + control siRNA group.