Serum Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting and Regulation of MMP-9 in a New In Vitro Model of THP-1 Cells Activated by Stenting

Figure 5

MMP-9 expression is modulated by the ERK1/2/Elk-1 pathway. (a) Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Elk-1 protein in control cultures of THP-1 cells and in cultures treated with the supernatants of scratch-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min. (b) Quantitative data for (a). (c) Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Elk-1 and expression of MMP-9 protein in control group, injury group, and PD98059 group. Control group was THP-1 cultures treated with the supernatants of HUVECs without scratch injury, while injury and PD98059 groups were cultures treated with supernatants of scratch-injured HUVECs for 6 hours. Cultures of the PD98059 group were pretreated with PD98095 for 1 h prior to HUVEC supernatants treatment. (d) Quantitative data for (c). compared with control group; compared with rest groups; compared with injury group.

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