Figure 7. Inhibition of ROS, and p38 MAPK reduces caspase-3 cleavage induced by 3DG-collagen.

Fibroblasts were pretreated with 100 µg/mL of ascorbic acid, 1 mM apocynin, or 10 µM SB202190 for 1 h and cultured on native collagen, 1 mM 3 DG-collagen, or treated with 50 µM H₂O₂ for 24 h. Treatment of fibroblasts with 50 µM H₂O₂ for 24 h was used as a positive control. 100 µg of whole cell lysate was assayed for caspase-3 activity according to the protocol from Caspase-3 Colorimetric Correlate Assay. All samples were performed in triplicate and normalized to the control samples. All comparisons are made against collagen treated with PBS unless otherwise indicated. Data are mean±SD (n = 3), **P<0.0002, *P<0.001.