Figure 6. PAR2 regulated chondrocytes proliferation induced by IL-1β by MAPK / NF-κB signal pathway.

SB203580, a novel p38 MAPK inhibitor with selective activity against p38 MAPK, was employed to inhibit the p38 MAPK expression in chondrocytes induced by IL-1β. (A–D) The expression levels of PAR2, p38, p-p38, IκB-α, p- IκB-α, p- NF-κB (nucleus) and NF-κB (cytoplasm) were determined by Western blot and quantification analysis. (E) The cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. (F and G) The cell proliferation was determined by clony formation assay and quantification analysis. The values are mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 vs NC group, ^##P<0.01 vs IL-1β treatment group, ^&&P<0.01 vs IL-1β+ PAR2 agonist.