Effect of LK-ME on mRNA expression of lipid metabolism related genes in the macrophage differentiated THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophage like cells using PMA. The cells were stimulated with the indicated concentrations of LK-ME (A, E), taxifolin (B, F), quercetin (C, G), and luteolin (D, H). After 6 h, the cells were harvested, and LXRα and ABCG1 mRNA expressions were monitored by real-time RT-PCR analysis. Data represent relative expression values versus mRNA expression in the unstimulated control cells after normalization with the GAPDH mRNA expression. The taxifolin concentrations at the indicated dilution of LK-ME are given in parentheses. Error bars indicate standard deviations calculated from three independent experiments, and the double asterisks (∗∗) indicate that the difference is statistically significant (p < 0.01) and larger than two-fold, compared with that of the control. n.d.: no data.