Figure 6.

Thrombin-induced COX-2 expression contributes to cell proliferation. (A) The proliferating effects of thrombin on human cardiomyocytes were analysed by a CCK-8 kit. Cells were pretreated with CLC (10 μM), NS-398 (NS, 10 μM), PPACK (PPA, 1 μM), SCH79797 (SCH, 1 μM), SB202190 (SB, 1 μM), U0126 (U0, 1 μM), SP600125 (SP, 0.1 μM), tanshinone IIA (TSIIA; 3 μM) or helenalin (HLN; 1 μM) for 1 h and then incubated with thrombin for 48 h. (B) Cells were incubated with thrombin (3 U·mL⁻¹) for the indicated time intervals. (C–D) Cells were pretreated with CLC or NS-398 (C), PPACK, SCH79797, SB202190, U0126, SP600125, TSIIA or HLN (D) for 1 h and then incubated with thrombin for 36 h. The COX-2, PCNA and cyclin D1 protein expression were determined by Western blot. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 3). *P < 0.05; ^#P < 0.01, significantly different from thrombin alone.