Figure 2.

Flurbiprofen activates caspase 3-like activity while NO-flurbiprofen inhibits it. Gastric epithelial cells were incubated for 24 h with different concentrations of (a) flurbiprofen and (b) NO-flurbiprofen. Results in (a) are means±s.e.mean from six separate cell cultures and are expressed as the per cent change from activities in the absence of agent which were: 147±36 and 1779±775 pmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹ for attached and detached cells respectively. Results in (b) are means±s.e.mean from five separate cell cultures and are expressed as the per cent change from activities in the absence of agent which were: 182±26 and 1439±353 pmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹ for attached and detached cells respectively. ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01 for difference from appropriate control by analysis of variance and Dunnett's test.