FIGURE 9.

Effects of BMP signaling inhibitors on hepcidin up-regulation. A, HuH7 cells were treated for 4 h with the supernatant of B. longum-infected THP-1 cells in the presence of the inhibitors dorsomorphin (Dorso, 5 μm) or LDN193189 (LDN, 500 nm) or an equivalent volume of the vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Hepcidin expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. *, p = 0.007; **, p = 0.009; ***, p = 0.01; n = 3 samples/group from one of two similar experiments. Con, control. B, HuH7 cells were treated for 4 h with 10 ng/ml of IL-1β by itself (−) or in the presence of the inhibitors dorsomorphin (5 μm) or LDN193189 (500 nm). Hepcidin expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. *, p = 0.001; **, p = 0.003; ***, p = 0.001; n = 3 samples/group from one of two similar experiments. C, HuH7 cells were treated for 4 h with 10 ng/ml of IL-1β by itself (−) or in the presence of 7.5 μg/ml of either a neutralizing anti-BMP2 antibody or an irrelevant isotype-matched control antibody. Hepcidin expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. *, p = 0.02; **, p = 0.02; ***, p = 0.03; n = 3 samples/group from one of two similar experiments. D, primary human hepatocytes were treated for 4 h with 10 ng/ml of IL-1β by itself (−) or in the presence of 7.5 μg/ml of either a neutralizing anti-BMP2 antibody or an irrelevant isotype-matched control antibody. Hepcidin expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. *, p = 0.001; **, p = 0.01; ***, p = 0.005; n = 4 samples/group from one of two similar experiments.