DJC downregulated SOCS expression in GMCs. (a) Cells were treated with AGEs for 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, and then total cell lysates from cells were subjected to analysis for SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein levels. (b) Laser densitometry of the gels showed in (a) and two additional experiments. (c) Total cell lysates from cells treated with AGEs and DJC (0.125, 0.5, and 2 mg/ml) or AG490 (20 μM) in the presence of AGEs for 48 h were subjected to western blot analysis for SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein levels. (d) Laser densitometry of the gels showed in (c) and two additional experiments. β-Actin expression acted as an internal reference. The columns and error bars represent the mean and SD (n = 3 per group). ∗P < 0.05 and ∗∗P < 0.01 versus Ctrl; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01 versus AGEs. Similar results were obtained in at least three independent experiments.