FIGURE 14.

Effect of TCA-induced ERK1/2 and Akt activation on COX-2 expression in HuCCT1 cells. Cells were cultured in serum-free medium overnight and pretreated with a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2, U0126 (10 μm) for 1 h, and then treated with S1P (100 nm) or TCA (100 μm) for 1 h. At the end of treatment, total protein was isolated and protein levels of COX-2 and actin were detected by Western blot analysis. A and C, representative images of the immunoblots for COX-2 and actin are shown. B and D, relative protein levels of COX-2/Actin were calculated from three independent experiments. Values represent the mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments. Statistical significance relative to the vehicle control: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; relative to the S1P or TCA treatment group: #, p < 0.05; ###, p < 0.01.