Figure 5.

Effect of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 inhibition on Sprr1a and α-SMA expression in the setting of CO treatment. (A) Fibroblasts were stimulated with TGF-β₁ with or without CO, and cell lysate was analyzed by Western blotting for ERK phosphorylation. CO exposure enhanced ERK phosphorylation at 3- and 6-hour time points. (B) Stat3 phosphorylation was not significantly affected by CO exposure. (C) Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein/ERK1 kinase led to a loss of the effect of CO on both Sprr1a and α-SMA expression. (D) p38 Inhibition decreased both Sprr1a and α-SMA expression.