Figure 2.

Self-assembled nCUR inhibits inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. (A and B) mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines were assessed when Raw264.7 cells (A) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) (B) were incubated with CUR and nCUR for 12 h followed by exposure to LPS for 3 h. (C and D) mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and MCP-1 were assessed when Raw264.7 cells (C) and BMDMs (D) were treated with vehicle, SN38, SN38 combined with CUR and SN38 combined with nCUR for 6 h. The data were normalized to GAPDH and then presented as values relative to the control values. (E) Raw264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS for 12 h in the presence of CUR and nCUR. Three independent staining tests were performed, and the data are presented as the mean ± SD. N.S. indicates no significant difference; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001, as determined by two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's post hoc test.