Figure 1.

Effects of zinc on PMA-treated cell survival, COX-1/2 protein expressions and PGE2 release in hGFs. (a) The cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay for the indicated concentrations of ZnCl2 (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 µM) in the presence of PMA (1 µM). Data are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 3). (b) The cyclooxygenase -1/2 (COX-1/2) expressions and COX-2 expression level in hGFs were represented. The cells in each group were prepared for immunodetection with anticyclooxygenase-1 or 2 antibodies. The membranes were denuded and GAPDH was employed to load the same protein concentration. Densitometric analysis of COX-2 represents the mean ratio ± SD from three separate experiments. Significant differences are indicated as *p < 0.05 compared to PMA. (c) Released PGE2 was measured from recuperation of the culture medium from the previously mentioned condition, and these were processed for analysis by ELISA.