Astaxanthin Inhibits Interleukin-6 Expression in Cerulein/Resistin-Stimulated Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Figure 5

Astaxanthin (ASX) inhibits cerulein/resistin-induced NF-κB activation and IL-6 expression in AR42J cells. The cells were pretreated with the indicated concentrations of ASX for 3 h and then stimulated with cerulein/resistin for 1 h (for NF-κB-DNA binding activity and nuclear level of NF-κB p65 by confocal images (a, b)), for 6 h (for IL-6 mRNA level (c)), and 24 h (for IL-6 protein level (d)). (a) NF-κB-DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). (b) The immunoreactive NF-κB p65 was visualized using a rhodamine-conjugated mouse anti-rabbit IgG antibody (red) with DAPI counterstaining (blue) of the same field. (c) The mRNA expression level of IL-6 was determined by real-time PCR analysis and normalized to that of β-actin. (d) The protein level of IL-6 in the media was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data are expressed as the of three different experiments. vs. none (untreated cells); ⁺ vs. cerulein (cells treated with cerulein alone).

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