The MUC5B Mucin Is Involved in Paraquat-Induced Lung Inflammation

Figure 2

MUC5B expression and TNF-α and IL-6 release were increased in PQ-exposed A549 cells. (a) Cells were treated with various concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μM) of PQ for 24 h. Cell viability assay was determined by CCK-8 assays, and the cell viability was not significantly different compared to that of the control groups when the PQ concentration was less than 200 μM. (b) Cells were treated with 50 μM PQ for up to 24 h. MUC5B mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. MUC5B mRNA expression levels gradually increased at 10 and 25 μM PQ and peaked at 50 μM PQ. (c) Cells were incubated with various concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μM) of PQ for 24 h. MUC5B mRNA levels were measured by RT-qPCR. (d) MUC5B protein levels were analyzed by dot blot ELISA; samples were duplicate in vertical line. (e) Compared to time 0 h levels in cell lysates, MUC5B protein levels were significantly increased in time 24 h. (f) Cells were treated with 50 μM of PQ for different time points. TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the cell culture supernatants were analyzed by ELISA. The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were dramatically increased after exposure to PQ for 24 h. The data are shown as the of three different experiments. , , , compared with no-treatment group (a, b), or compared with the time 0 h (c, e); , , , compared with the time 0 h (f).

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