Fig. 2.

LPS increases COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. (A) MTCC were treated with vehicle or 100 ng/mL LPS for 1, 4, or 8 h. COX-2 mRNA expression levels were determined by qRT-PCR. Ct values were normalized to ß-actin, and AACt were normalized to vehicle controls. Data are presented as fold change. Statistical analyses were performed on ACt values and analyzed using two tailed student's t test. * indicates a significant difference compared to vehicle control. Data represent means ± SEM from 2 independent experiments (n=6, p<0.05). (B) MTCC were treated with vehicle or 100 ng/mL LPS for 2, 4, 8, or 24 h. COX-2 protein levels were determined by western blot using enhance chemiluminescense and autoradiography COX-2 densities were normalized to oc-tubulin and quantified by densitometry. Data were analyzed using oneway ANOVA with Newman Keuls post-hoc. * indicates a significant difference compared to vehicle control and 24 h; % indicates a significant difference compared to 4 h. Data represents means ± SEM (normalized to vehicle controls) from at least 3 independent experiments (n=9-12, p<0.05).