Figure 6

NPY inhibits LPS- and IL-1β-induced HSP27 phosphorylation. (A) Densitometric quantification of western blots shows that microglial cells, treated with LPS (100 ng/ml) or with IL-1β (1.5 ng/ml) showed increased levels of phosphorylated HSP27, while NPY (1 μM) clearly inhibited this effect. Moreover, cells treated with the p38 inhibitor SB239063 (20 μM) showed decreased expression similar to that of untreated cells. (B) Representative confocal photomicrographs demonstrate increased phosphorylation of HSP27 upon inflammatory challenge. Cells were stained for phosphorylated HSP27 (in red), CD11b (in green) and Hoechst 33342 (nuclei in blue). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 4-5) and as a percentage of control (*p < 0.05, using Bonferroni's Multiple Comparison Test). Scale bar 10 μm.