Figure 8.

Bourgeonal increases the production of inflammatory cytokines in HASMCs. Serum-deprived HASMCs were stimulated with bourgeonal or amyl butyrate in the presence or absence of undecanal, the ERK inhibitor PD98059, the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580, or the Jnk inhibitor SP600125 at the indicated concentrations and for the indicated times (A,C), for 72 h (B,D) or for 6 days (E). (A–D) The cytokines in the cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. (E) Viable cells were counted by Trypan blue staining. Stimulation with EGF was used as a positive control. Data (A–D, N = 4; e, N = 3) are presented as mean ±SEM. Significance was tested with an unpaired two-sample Student's t-test. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, and ^***p < 0.001 vs. non-stimulated controls if placed on top of the bars or to values as indicated. n.s., differences to non-stimulated controls are not significant.