Figure 7.

Blockade of ERK1/2 signaling almost completely abrogates the synergic action of TGF-β₁, IL-4 and IL-17A on the induction of bronchial EMT. The 16-HBE cells were serum-starved overnight and then stimulated with indicated cytokine or cytokine cocktail in the presence or absence of U0126 for 60 min, followed by Western blot analysis of EMT markers. A. U0126 was potent to attenuate cytokine cocktail induced ERK1/2 activation. B. Pre-treatment of 16-HBE cells almost completely abrogated cytokine cocktail induced decrease of E-cadherin expression. C. U0126 potently attenuated cytokine cocktail induced α-SMA expression in 16-HBE cells.