Figure 2

Enhanced p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation and COX-2 expression induced by TNF-α and LPA are partially inhibited by AG1478 and MMP inhibitors. Panel A: 18Co cells were pre-treated with 1 μM AG1478 for 1 h and then 5 ng/ml EGF or 10 μM LPA with or without pre-incubation with 10 ng/ml TNF-α for 18 h. Western blot analysis detected COX-2 and p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation. The results shown are the mean ± S.E. (n ≥ 3), expressed as a percentage of the maximal level of COX-2 expression and p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation, displayed graphically on the right. For all experiments, * denotes statistical significance, p < 0.05. Panel B: 18Co cells were incubated with or without 10 ng/ml TNF-α for 18 h, followed by 10 μM LPA for 4 h with or without pre-treatment with 1 μM AG1478, 10 μM GM6001, or 5 μM BB-94 for 1 h. The results shown are the mean ± S.E. (n ≥ 3), expressed as a percentage of the maximal level of COX-2 expression and p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation, displayed graphically on the right. Panel C: 18Co cells were incubated with or without 10 ng/ml TNF-α for 18 h, followed by exposure to 5 ng/ml EGF for 4 h with or without pre-treatment with 1 μM AG1478, 10 μM GM6001, or 5 μM BB-94 for 1 h. The results are representative of three separate experiments.