Figure 3.

Bilirubin effects on the expression of MAPK kinase in the lung of the “two-hit” sepsis model. Mice were administered i.p. LPS at 5 mg/kg body weight on day 0. After 24 h, the mice were challenged with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP: 25-gauge needle and double-puncture). Next, the mice were administered bilirubin at 30 mg/kg body weight. The levels of MAPK kinase in the lung were determined by ELISA after one day. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 5 mice per group) and analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey-Krammer multiple comparison test using the SPSS program. * p < 0.05 versus sham. ^# p < 0.05 versus LPS. ^† p < 0.05 versus CLP. ^‡ p < 0.05 versus “two-hit”.