IL-37 Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Fetal Membranes of Spontaneous Preterm Birth via the NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Figure 3

Effects of IL-37 on expression and activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in fetal membranes and human amniotic epithelial cells. (a) The activities of MMP2 and MMP9 in fetal membranes collected from term () and sPTB () delivery women were measured with gelatin zymogram. (b) Statistical analysis of gelatin zymogram in the result (a). (c) The activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in WISH cells following treatment with LPS and rhIL-37 for 24 hours was detected with gelatin zymogram. (d) The mRNA expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 after exposed to LPS and rhIL-37 for 24 hours were detected by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The results were normalized to β-actin. (e) The protein expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 after exposed to LPS and rhIL-37 for 24 hours were measured by western blot. (f) Statistical analysis of western blot in the result (e). (g) The activity of MMP2 and MMP9 between the IL-37 siRNA group and the si_NC group was detected with gelatin zymogram. (h) Statistical analysis of gelatin zymogram in results (g). (i) The mRNA expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR analysis in each group. The results were normalized to β-actin. (j) The protein expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 between the IL-37 siRNA group and the si_NC group were detected by western blot. (k) Statistical analysis of western blot in the result (j). ns: nonsignificance; vs. LPS; ; ^## vs. control; ^####.

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