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. 2013 Feb 14;8(2):e56891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056891

Figure 5. ERK1/2 is the predominant signaling pathway facilitating IL-1β-mediated astrocyte TIMP-1 expression.

Figure 5

Neuroinflammation activates bystander microglia and astrocytes to secrete IL-1β. Astrocytes respond to IL-1β by secreting TIMP-1. In this study we use a panel of small molecule pathway-selective inhibitors to delineate the signal transduction mechanism facilitating IL-1β-induced astrocyte TIMP-1 expression. p38K- and ERK1/2-selective inhibitors reduced and completely blocked IL-1β-induced astrocyte TIMP-1 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. U0126, the ERK1/2-selective inhibitor, also blocked TIMP-1 promoter activity.