Fig. 6

Effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 gene expressions. Cultured cells were untreated (PBS) or treated with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (100 nM), LPS (100 ng/ml), or 1,25(OH)₂D₃ plus LPS for 24 h. After treatment, cultured cells were harvested to conduct an RT-PCR assay of iNOS (a), IL-6, and MIP-2 (b) mRNA levels. Expression levels of iNOS, IL-6, and MIP-2 mRNAs were normalized to β-actin. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 4 in each group). **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 vs. the control (Cont.); ⁺⁺ p < 0.01, ⁺⁺⁺ p < 0.001 vs. LPS