(A) Growth-arrested hNPECs were preincubated with AR inhibitors sorbinil or zopolrestat or carrier for 24 h followed by treatment with LPS and incubation for 1h. Nuclear extract was prepared and EMSA was performed with equal amount of protein (5 μg). (B) For SEAP assay growth-arrested hNPECs were preincubated with sorbinil, tolrestat or zopolrestat or carrier for 24 h followed by transfection with NF-κB-pSEAP vector or control vector. After 6 h, cells were stimulated with LPS (1 μg/ml) and incubated for 48 h. Cell culture media were harvested, cleared by centrifugation and NF-κB-dependent reporter SEAP activity was measured by chemiluminescence’s method essentially as described by the manufacturer. #p<0.001 Vs Control; *p<0.01 Vs LPS alone (n=3). sorb, sorbinil; zopol, zopolrestat.