p38 MAPK contributes to improper Smad2 signaling in mgN/mgN aortas.
A, thoracic aortas from P10 wild-type (WT) and
Fbn1-null (mgN) mice immunostained for phospho-p38 MAPK.
Scale bar, 50 μm. B, representative immunoblots of
phospho-ATF2 and phospho-Smad2 in the thoracic aortas of wild-type or
Fbn1-null mice (n = 6) treated with the phospho-p38 MAPK
inhibitor or placebo. C, representative immunoblots of phospho-p38
MAPK (phospho-p38) and phospho-Smad2 in the thoracic aortas of
untreated wild-type or Fbn1-null mice (n = 6) sacrificed at
P4 or P10. The bar graphs in B and C summarize
experimental (white) and control data (black) normalized
against an internal control (β-tubulin or β-actin); wild-type values
are arbitrarily expressed as 1 unit. The asterisks indicate values
statistically different from those of control samples (Student's t
test, p ≤ 0.05).