Effect of MAPK specific inhibitors on COX-2 protein expression.

<p>Fibroblasts from nasal mucosa (NM, N = 5, black spots) and nasal polyps from AIA patients (NP-AIA, N = 5, white spots) were pre-treated with p38 (A) MAPK (SB203580), (B) JNK (SP600125), and (C) ERK (PD98059) specific inhibitors at different concentrations (0.1–10 µM) for 1 h before addition of IL-1β (1 ng/ml) for 24 h. COX-2 and β-actin protein expression was analyzed by Western blot. Only the p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly blocked IL-1β-induced COX-2 expression in NM fibroblasts. Results are presented as COX-2/β-actin ratio. Graph shows individual experimental results and lines indicate the medians values. * p<0.05, † p = 0.06 compared to IL-1β treatment by Wilcoxon test.</p

Time-course and dose-response of IL-1β in COX-1 and COX-2 protein expression.

<p>Fibroblasts from nasal mucosa (NM) and nasal polyps from AIA patients (NP-AIA) were incubated at different times and concentrations with IL-1β. COX-1 expression was not altered by IL-1β treatment in either NM or NP-AIA fibroblasts. In NM fibroblasts, COX-2 expression was induced in a time-dependent and dose-response manner. In NP-AIA, COX-2 protein expression was not significantly increased, compared to baseline level. The image that is shown is representative of NM and NP-AIA Western blot.</p

Epidemiological characteristics of control subjects and patients with NP and AIA.

<p>SD, standard deviation.</p

Time-course of p65 and p50 nuclear translocation induced by IL-1β in nasal fibroblast cultures.

<p>Fibroblasts from nasal mucosa (NM, N = 3, black spots) and nasal polyps from AIA patients (NP-AIA, N = 3, white spots) were incubated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for 5 to 60 min. p65 (A) and p50 (B) nuclear translocation were measured by TransAM® and Western blot. Graphs show the fold change increase from individual experimental results and lines indicate the medians values. Insets show representative Western blot images of p65 (A) and p50 (B) subunits from both NM and NP-AIA fibroblasts and the loading control β-actin. No significant differences (NS by Mann-Whitney U-test) were found at any time between NM and NP-AIA fibroblasts.</p