Fig. 2.

Effect of LPS on the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators in rat IMCs. Time-dependent changes in COX-2 (A) or iNOS (B) mRNA expression mediated by LPS (1 µg/ml, n=4–6 each). (C) Concentration-dependent change in iNOS expression mediated by LPS (10–10,000 ng/ml, n=4−6 each). Data are mean ± SEM; *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. resting values. (D–F) Upregulation of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, TNF-α and MCP-1) by LPS (100 ng/ml) after 4 hr. Each column shows mean ± SEM (n=4–6); *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. resting or before stimulation with LPS.