Figure 2

LPS-induced COX-2 expression via NF-κB activation. A: Cells were pretreated with an inhibitor of NF-κB, Bay117082, for 1 h and then incubated with LPS (100 mg/ml) for 24 h. The expression of COX-2 was determined by western blot. *P < 0.05; ^#P < 0.01, as compared with the cells incubated with LPS alone. B, C: Cells were pretreated with either Bay117082 or TLR 4 antibody for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS (100 mg/ml) for the indicated time intervals. Phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 was determined by western blot. Data are summarized and expressed as mean ± SEM of four individual experiments. *P < 0.05; ^#P < 0.01 as compared within groups. NS: not significant.