Figure 5. Akt-, NFκB-, and MAPK- related protein expression were analyzed by western blot.

In three independent experiments, HaCaT cells were exposed to 60 µM Cr(VI) for 4 hrs. Cr(VI) activated the Akt, NF-κB and MAPK pathways in HaCaT cells. NAC (10 mM) effectively inhibited the activation of phospho-Akt, phospho-p65, phospho-IκBα, phospho-ERK, phospho-p38 and phospho-JNK.