Figure 6.

Spirulina extract attenuated RINm5F cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis. RINm5F cells were co-treated with Spirulina (Spi) extract or PC, and IL-1β and IFN-γ for 30 min. (A) Western blot analysis of JNK; (B) p38 phosphorylations; (C) ERK phosphorylations and (D) Caspase-3 activity in RINm5F cells. The relative expression levels of proteins were determined using SYNGENE Gel Image software and the control band was given an arbitrary value of 1; (E) DNA fragmentation detected by the TUNEL assay (magnification, 200×). TUNEL-positive nuclei due to DNA fragmentation appear as green areas. Each value represents the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. The two-sample t-test was used to compare the results between the control group and treatment group. ** p < 0.01, significant difference between the Cytokine-treated and the Cytokine + Spi extract or Cytokine + PC groups.