FIGURE 6.

Progesterone inhibits the activation of NF-κB signal pathway. (A) PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells were pre-treated with N. gonorrhoeae overnight and then stimulated with P4. Four hours later, cells were selected to detect the mRNA levels of NF-κB p65. (B) Semi-quantification analysis of NF-κB western blot films using ImageJ software. (C) Phosphorylation of NF-κB and total NF-κB expression were detected by immunoblotting. Supernatants were analyzed by ELISA for IL-6 (D) and TNF-α release (E). Data are representative or means ± SD of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. GC, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; P4, progesterone.