Figure 4

Effects of CYT and quercetin on LPS-induced NF-κB activation and IκB degradation. PBMCs (2 × 10⁶) were treated with CYT (1 mg/ml) and quercetin (0.1 mM) for 2 h and then stimulated with LPS (10 ng/ml) for 6 h. Nuclear and cytoplasmic protein was prepared and analyzed for NF-κB and IκBα by western blotting as described in the experimental procedures (A and C). Nuclear protein was incubated in a 96-well plate coated with an oligonucleotide containing the NF-κB binding site. Presence of NF-κB transcription complex was evaluated with an NF-κB antibody. Results are expressed as the fold increases of absorbance at 405 nm over control conditions (B). Results are representative of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, significantly different from the unstimulated cells. **P < 0.05 compared to LPS alone.. NE, nuclear extract; CE, cytosol extract;Quer, quercetin.