Figure 5.

Inhibition of p38-MAPK signalling abrogates leptin-mediated inhibition of H4IIE cell proliferation in vitro. H4IIE hepatocellular carcinoma cells were cultured in medium containing one of 0.1% (v/v) foetal bovine serum (FBS) (low-serum medium [LSM]), LSM + leptin (L; 100 ng/ml), LSM + inhibitor (AG490 [AG]; STAT3 inhibitor, 10 µM), PD098059 (PD; pERK1/2 inhibitor, 10 µM), SB202190 (SB; p38-MAPK inhibitor, 100 nm) or inhibitor + leptin. Number of cells was calculated as fold change vs. number of cells at day 0. n = 4 separate experiments; *P < 0.05 vs. 24-h C; †P < 0.05 vs. 48-h C; ‡P < 0.05 vs. 72-h C. C, control