Fig. 2. Bixin attenuates SiO₂-induced inflammation by decreasing P65 phosphorylation in the lung tissues. (A) Total cell numbers in BAL were measured in the indicated treatment groups. Cell differential analysis was performed on the BAL cells for each mouse sample. At least 200 cells were counted per sample. The numbers of (B) macrophages, (C) neutrophils and (D) lymphocytes were counted (n = 6). The mRNA levels of (E) Il6 and (F) Tnfα were measured by RT-PCR analysis. The results are expressed as mean ± SD (*p < 0.05, control vs. treatment groups; ^#p < 0.05, SiO₂vs. bixin + SiO₂). Lung tissue lysates from the indicated groups of mice (n = 3) were subjected to immunoblot analysis with the NF-κB signaling pathway (P65, p-P65) antibodies.