Figure 7.

JNK inhibitor, SP600125, or/and ERK inhibitor, PD98059, reduced FK506-induced apoptosis of fibroblasts. Cells were preincubated with JNK inhibitor, SP600125 (40 μM), or/and ERK inhibitor, PD98059 (60 μM), for 30 min before treatment with 50 μM FK506 for 8 h. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The mean percentage of apoptotic cell death decreased to (61.1±7.18) and (67.6±7.59)% in cells pretreated with SP600125 and PD98059, respectively, compared with that of cells treated with 50 μM FK506 alone (87.9±6.69)%. Preincubation with the two inhibitors together further decreased the apoptotic percentage to (39.87±4.57)%, compared with SP600125 or PD98059 pretreatment, respectively. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with control. ^#P<0.05 compared with cells treated with 50 μM FK506 alone. ^▴P<0.05 compared with SP600125 or PD98059 pretreatment, respectively