Western blotting The cytoplasmic

and nuclear extracts from differentiated U937 cells were prepared with NEPER Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Extraction Reagents (Pierce, Rockford, IL). Equal amounts (20 μg or 10 μg in the nuclear fraction) of protein extracts were electrophoresed on 8–10% SDS polyacrylamide gels and transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. Rabbit anti-phospho-p65 (Ser276) and p-IκB-α (Ser32),rabbit anti- phospho-specific p38 MAPK and p38, rabbit anti-phospho-specific ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 were used TH-302 supplier to detect the presence of phospho-p65, phospho-specific p38 MAPK and p38; phosphor-specific ERK1/2 and ERK1/2, respectively. The scanned figures were visualized and quantified using Image J MMP inhibitor software. Statistical analysis Data presented are representative of 3-5 independent experiments. Unless otherwise indicated, data were expressed as means ± S.D. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by LSD for multiple comparisons. Differences were considered significant if p < 0.05. All analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0 software. Results Induction of

U937 cell differentiation by PMA The U937 cells of a routine subculture are in the form of a single cell suspension. After 8 h of culture in the presence of 10 nM PMA, the cells began to transform from flat elongated suspension cells into irregular-shaped amoeba-like cells that developed pseudopodia extensions and adhered to the bottom of the container. After 48 h of cultivation, 85% of the cells were adherent growth. So far, differentiation of U937 cells by treatment with Akt inhibitor PAK6 PMA has been accomplished. Cell viability assay To assess the effect of PCN on cell viability, MTT assays were performed on cells incubated with a range of PCN concentrations (5-100 μM) after 24 h.

Cell viability was not affected by PCN (5-75 μM). Loss of cell viability by 5-6% was observed at a PCN concentration of 100 μM (data not shown). Therefore, PCN concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 μM was used in the subsequent experiments. Effect of PCN on IL-8 mRNA In these studies, TNF-α was used as a positive control to further explore the expression of IL-8 mRNA induced by PCN. After treatments with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) or PCN (25 μM) alone or their combination for the indicated periods, IL-8 mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-PCR with its specific primers. PCN-mediated induction of IL-8 mRNA in differentiated U937 cells was detectable at any time point studied. TNF-α alone induced IL-8 mRNA in a time-dependent manner, which peaked at 2 h, and stimulated IL-8 release in a concentration-dependent manner after 24 hours of incubation (Figure 1). The medium alone produced trace amounts of IL-8. Treatment with PCN plus TNF-α slightly increased IL-8 mRNA expression. This difference, however, was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Figure 1 The expression of IL-8 mRNA in PMA-differentiated U937 cells.