Figure 2.

Effect of inhibitors of IKK2 and MAP kinases upon TGF‐β‐induced IL‐6 and CXCL8 release, and miR‐145 expression from the ASM cells of nonsmokers and patients with COPD at 24 h. ASM cells were pretreated for 60 min with the indicated concentrations of the inhibitors of IKK‐2 (TPCA‐1), MEK‐1/2 (PD098059), JNK‐1/2 (SP600125) and p38 MAP kinase (SB203580). Following exposure to vehicle control or TGF‐β (1 ng·mL⁻¹) for 24 h, the release of IL‐6 and CXCL8 was determined by ELISA. miR‐145 expression was measured by RT‐PCR. Points represent the means ± SEM of nine ASM donors in each group. *^/# P < 0.05; ^## P < 0.01; ^### P < 0.001. Asterisks indicate stimulated nonsmoker comparison with no TGF‐β control. Hash signs indicate stimulated COPD comparison with no TGF‐β control.