Thread Embedding Acupuncture Inhibits Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Skin Photoaging in Hairless Mice

Figure 5

Western blot analysis for MMP-9 and its related signaling factors in dorsal skin of TEA-treated mice against UVB-induced skin damage. (a) Western blotting and (b) its relative densities of proteins. Relative densities of proteins of β-actin were quantified. UVB irradiation significantly increased expression of pJNK and MMP-9, but TEA treatment resulted in recovery to that of normal mice. and versus normal mice; and versus UV-B irradiated mice. Abbreviations: Nor, normal; TEA, thread embedding acupuncture; ERK, extracellular regulated signal kinase; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinases; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; MMP-9, matrix-metalloproteinase-9; UV, ultraviolet B.

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