Figure 5.

Effect of phycocyanin on the expression of c-myc and CyclinD1 and ROS levels in Hp-infected AGS cells. (A) Western blot analysis for c-myc and CyclinD1 expression in AGS cells after Hp infection. AGS cells were pre-incubated with SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), U1026 (ERK inhibitor), and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) for 1 h, followed by treatment with 150 µM phycocyanin, and subsequently infected with Hp at 50:1 (cells/bacteria) for 12 h. The cells were then assayed by western blotting to measure the levels of c-myc and CyclinD1. GAPDH was used as a loading control (**, P<0.01 vs. NC group; ^##, P<0.01 vs. PC + Hp group). (B) DCF fluorescence-based detection of intracellular ROS levels post-intervention with 150 µM phycocyanin for 24 h, followed by infection with Hp for 4 h (cell to Hp ratio of 1:50), scale bar = 30 µm. NC, AGS cells were neither infected with Hp nor treated with phycocyanin; PC, cells were treated with 150 µM phycocyanin only; Hp, cells were infected with Hp at 50:1 (cells/bacteria) for 4 h; PC + Hp, AGS cells were infected with Hp post-24 h intervention with 150 µM phycocyanin. ROS, reactive oxygen species; DCF, Dichlorofluorescin; DAPI, 2-(4-Amidinophenyl)-6-indolecarbamidine dihydrochloride.