Fig. 5.

Effects of SAMC on the inflammatory factors in the LPS-induced 16HBE cells and mice. The IL-6 (A), IL-12 (B), IL-10 (C) and TGF-β (D) levels in the BALF determined by the ELISA kits. The mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, CD86 and IL-12) (E) and anti-inflammatory markers (IL-10, CD206 and TGF-β) (F) in 16HBE cells and mice were assayed by RT-PCR. Study groups: C: control group, orally treated with the vehicle only; M: model group, LPS was instilled into the lungs of mice through a high-pressure syringe; L and H: orally treated with SAMC 20 and 40 mg/kg after the LPS challenge, respectively; P: positive control, NAC dosed at 500 mg/kg. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared with the control group; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001 compared with the model group. The data are represented as means ± SD. All the experiments were repeated three times.