Figure 4.

PA triggered TLR4-NF-kB signaling pathway activation. Serum-starved HSCs (day 2) were exposed to PA (200 µm) with or without LPS (1 µg/mL) for 12 h. (A-C) Protein level of TLR4, phpsphorylated-p65 and IKBa was determined and relative expression level was evaluated by densitometric analysis. Serum-starved HSCs (day 2) were pre-incubated with TLR4 inhibitor TAK242 (1 µm/mL) for 2 h then exposed to PA (200 µm) combined with/without LPS (1 µg/mL) for 12 h, (D-G) protein level of TLR4, phpsphorylated-p65 and IKBa was determined and relative expression level was evaluated by densitometric analysis. (H) Immunofluorescent staining for TLR4 and NF-κB phosphorylated-p65 (magnification, ×200). Results are presented as mean ± standard error. *, P<0.05, **, P<0.01 and ***, P<0.001 compared with control (untreated).