Fig. 5.

DEX up-regulates AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway in vitro, also enhanced Foxp3 expression in T cells in a concentration-dependent manner. A PBMCs from patients with sepsis were extracted and treated with DEX for 24 h. The mRNA level of AMPK and SIRT1 was detected by qRT-PCR. B The level of AMPK, p-AMPK and SIRT1 protein in EL-4 cells before and after DEX treatment was detected by Western blotting. C After Compound C was given to intervene EL-4 cells under DEX treatment condition, the protein level of AMPK, p-AMPK and SIRT1 was detected by Western blotting. D Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to measure the cell viability under different concentration of DEX. E Western blotting was used to detect the expression of FOXP3 protein under different concentration of DEX. F The level of FOXP3 and IL-10 was detected by immunofluorescence under different concentration of DEX. N = 5 in each group. All tests were repeated three times. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001