Figure 2

The p38α inhibitor, 069A, selectively inhibits phosphorylation of the p38α substrates MK2 and MSK1 in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells. BV-2 cells were stimulated with 100ng/ml of LPS in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of 069A (0.9 - 30 μM). Levels of (A) p-MK2 and (B) p-MSK1 were suppressed by the p38α inhibitor in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of cells with 069A had an effect on p-CREB (C) only at the two highest compound concentrations, and had no effect on p-ATF2 levels (D). Gray bars show the response of control, unstimulated cells; white bars show the response of LPS-stimulated cells in the absence of 069A; black bars show the response of LPS-stimulated cells in the presence of 069A. For each endpoint, data are expressed as a percent of the maximal activity, where activity in the presence of LPS alone is taken as 100%. Asterisk denotes significance (* = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, or *** = p < 0.001) in endpoint for LPS-stimulated cells (white bars) to LPS-stimulated cells in presence of 069A (black bars). Data represent five independent experiments.