Cells were pre-treated with MAP kinase inhibitors against ERK (PD 98059, Fig. 3A), P38 (SB 203580, Fig. 3B) or JNK (SP 600125, Fig. 3C) overnight followed by 5 μM MeHg (without the testing agent) overnight, and then IL-6 production and cell viability were determined. Results indicated that inhibition of these MAP kinases did not prevent IL-6 release. Thus, MAP kinases were not required for MeHg-induced IL-6 release. These MAP kinase inhibitors alone (without MeHg) did not increase IL-6 release.