FIG. 2.

Inhibition of the acute phase response by Mαα. A: Male hCRP transgenic mice were fed for 3 weeks with Mαα (n = 7) mixed in the diet or left untreated (n = 7) as described in research design and methods. LPS (25 μg) was injected intraperitoneally as indicated and the mice were killed 18 h later. LPS-induced plasma hCRP was determined as described in research design and methods. Respective means are denoted by lines (P < 0.05). B: Hep3B cells were used for evaluating Maa effects in suppressing IL6-induced CRP since HepG2 cells fail to respond to IL6. Hep3B cells were incubated for 24 h in the absence (black bars) and presence (white bars) of 200 μmol/L Mαα, 10 ng/mL IL-6, and 1 ng/mL IL-1 as indicated. mRNA normalized to β-actin was quantified by real time PCR as described in research design and methods. mRNA content of nontreated cells is defined as 1.0. Representative experiment in triplicates. Mean ± SE. *Significant as compared with nontreated cells (P < 0.05). C: Male hCRP transgenic mice were dosed daily by gavage for 2 weeks with vehicle (black bars) or 60 mg/kg BW of Mαα (empty bars) as described in research design and methods. IL-6 (500 ng) was injected intraperitoneally, and the mice were killed 18 h later. Mouse hepatic SAA2, SAP, and fibrinogen transcripts normalized to β-actin were determined by real time PCR as described in research design and methods. mRNA content of nontreated animals is defined as 1.0. Mean ± SE (n = 8). *Significant as compared with vehicle-treated mice (P < 0.05).