Fig. 5.

PKC/p38 MAPK activation is associated with α₁-AR-mediated synergistic IL-1β production from LPS-challenged monocytes/macrophages. A, representative immunoblot of resolved THP-1 total cell lysates. B, quantitative analysis of all immunoblots (n = 3) showed increases in generated IL-1β from monocytes treated with LPS alone (3.8 ± 0.9-fold). There was synergistic IL-1β production from monocytes treated with PE plus LPS (8.7 ± 3.0-fold). Monocytes pretreated with SB 203580 or Bis II showed differences in generated IL-1β (3.9 ± 1.0 and 3.1 ± 1.2-fold, respectively). There were no IL-1β changes after treatment with PE (1.3 ± 0.2-fold), SB 203580 (0.7 ± 0.3-fold), or Bis II (1.0 ± 0.1-fold) only. C, representative immunoblot of resolved PMA-differentiated THP-1 total cell lysates. D, quantitative analysis of all immunoblots (n = 3) showed increases in IL-1β generated from macrophages treated with LPS alone (1.8 ± 0.4-fold). There was synergistic IL-1β production from macrophages treated with PE plus LPS (3.3 ± 0.5-fold). Macrophages pretreated with SB 203580 or Bis II showed changes in IL-1β levels (1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.3-fold, respectively). There were no IL-1β differences produced from macrophages treated with PE (1.3 ± 0.1-fold), SB 203580 (0.7 ± 0.1-fold), or Bis II (0.4 ± 0.1-fold) only. The 42-kDa actin band is shown as a loading control in all immunoblots. ★, p < 0.05 versus control; #, p < 0.05 versus LPS; °, p < 0.05 versus PE + LPS.