NF-α1 mediates the neuprotective effect of rosiglitazone by enhancing Bcl-2 expression. (A) Bar graphs showing Bcl-2 mRNA levels in hippocampal neurons treated with vehicle (Veh) or 1 μM rosiglitazone (Rosi) for 24 h. Rosiglitazone significantly increased Bcl-2 mRNA levels in hippocampal neurons, n = 5/group; values are mean ±SEM, *p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test. (B) Bcl-2 mRNA levels were strongly and significantly correlated with NF-α1 mRNA levels. (C) Representative Western blots and (D) Bar graphs show BCL-2 protein levels in hippocampal neurons transfected with scrambled siRNA or siNF-α1. In hippocampal neurons transfected with scrambled siRNA and treated for 24 h with rosiglitazone, BCL-2 protein levels increased significantly, n=7/group; values are mean ±SEM, **p<0.01, Mann-Whitney test. In contrast, BCL-2 protein did not increase with rosiglitazone treatment when NF-α1 expression was inhibited by siNF-α1 (n= 7/group).