Fig 4. Increase in the COX-2 mRNA degradation by Viscum album treatment.

A549 cells were stimulated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the presence and absence of VA Qu Spez for 4 hours. After 4 hours of IL-1β stimulation cells are blocked with actinomycin D (10 μg/ml). Cells were harvested at different time intervals after adding actinomycin D and total cellular RNA was isolated and used for RT-PCR for the estimation of COX-2 mRNA. Relative expression of remaining COX-2 mRNA at each time point, in VA treated and untreated cells (A) and the time required for 50% of the mRNA degradation as COX-2 mRNA half life (B). Data is obtained from three independent experiments.