Figure 5

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are involved in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2. (A) Cells transfected with TIMP-2 or control vector were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng/ml) for 30 min, and were subjected to immunoblot analysis using antibodies against the phospho- or total forms of JNK, ERK, and p38. (B) Quantification of western blot data. Levels of the active forms of MAPKs were normalized with respect to the levels of the total form of MAPKs, and then were expressed as relative fold changes compared with the MAPK levels in control samples. *P <0.05, significantly different from the LPS + control vector group. (C) Knockdown of TIMP-2 augmented MAPK phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. (D) Quantification of Western blot data. *P <0.05, significantly different from the LPS + control small interfering RNA (siRNA) group.