Figure 3.

Induction of TNF-α in BV2 cells by cMMP-3. MMP-3 increased TNF-α mRNA levels (A) and released TNF-α protein (B) in BV2 cells through its enzymatic activity. BV2 cells were treated with cMMP-3 (400 ng/ml), pMMP-3 (400 ng/ml), or NNGH (60 μm, 30 min pretreatment) plus cMMP-3 for 6 h, and then cytokine mRNAs were analyzed by RPA. A, Top, Representative autoradiograph of TNF-α mRNA expression in microglia from four independent RPA experiments. Bottom, Densitometric measurement of TNF-α levels was normalized by GAPDH levels. Values represent the mean ± SD (n = 4) (A). Under the same conditions, TNF-α release from BV2 cells was determined by ELISA. Values represent the mean ± SD (n = 4) (B).