Figure 5

HQT down-regulates NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo.

In vitro study: RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) with or without HQT at various concentrations (15 and 30 μM) for 24 hours. (a,b) Protein levels of IκBα, p-IκBα, p65 and p-p65 measured by Western blotting. The gels were run under the same experimental conditions. Densitometric analysis was performed to determine the relative ratios of each protein. The results are expressed as means ± SD of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001 vs. the control cells; ^△p < 0.05, ^△△p < 0.001 vs. the LPS-stimulated cells. In vivo study: Mice were administered regular water (control) or 3.5% DSS for 7 days followed by treatment with HQT for 7 days. (c,d) The protein levels of p-IκBα and p65 measured by Western blotting. The gels were run under the same experimental conditions. Densitometric analysis was performed to determine the relative ratios of each protein. Results are expressed as means ± SD of three independent experiments; n = 8 mice per group. ^△p < 0.05, ^△△p < 0.001 vs. DSS-treated mice. LPS, lipopolysaccharides.