Figure 4.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) inhibitor and CaMKII small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment blocked lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or PMA-induced cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activation, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. (a–c) CaMKII and CaMKIV mRNA and protein expression were detected in siRNA-pre-treated rat peritoneal macrophage by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting assay. (d, e) The effect of CaMK inhibitor or siRNA treatment on the expression or phosphorylation of CaM, CaMKII, CaMKIV and CREB was measured by immunoblotting in LPS- or PMA-stimulated macrophages. Meanwhile, COX-2 protein (f and g) and mRNA (h) expression and PGE₂ production (i) were also assessed in these macrophages.