Fig. 2.
Cross-talk between the AhR and NF-κB pathways in PM2.5-treated VSMCs. VSMCs were treated with d2H2O or 25 μg/mL PM2.5 with and without 5 μM CH223191 for 48 h. A The NF-κB reporter activity was measured. VSMCs were treated with d2H2O or 25 μg/mL PM2.5 with and without 10 μM IKK inhibitor for 48 h. The following parameters were determined: B CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 relative mRNA levels; C OPN and IL-6 relative mRNA levels; and D OPN and IL-6 protein levels in the media. The results are presented as mean ± SD for three independent experiments with 2–4 replicates in each experiment.*p < 0.05 compared with the d2H2O-treated cells(n = 3, one-way ANOVA). #p < 0.05 compared with the CH223191 or IKK inhibitor-treated cells (n = 3, two-way ANOVA). Non: no treatment with CH223191. Control: d2H2O treatment as control