FIGURE 5.

Mapracorat augments LPS-induced MKP-1 expression with potency similar to dexamethasone in Raw 264.7 macrophages. Cells were first pretreated with vehicle, different concentrations of dexamethasone, or different doses of mapracorat for 4 h, and then stimulated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 60 min. Cell lysates were collected, and samples were assessed for protein expression by Western blotting using an antibody specific to MKP-1. The blots were stripped and re-probed using a GAPDH-specific antibody, to verify comparable loading. Results presented are representative images. The intensity of the bands was quantified by densitometry. The signals of the bands of interest were normalized to the loading reference bands. Values presented below the blots represent fold-increase relative to the controls (DMSO treated, without LPS treatment, whose level was set equal to 1).