The MUC5B Mucin Is Involved in Paraquat-Induced Lung Inflammation

Figure 6

MUC5B regulates the release of TNF-α and IL-6. A549 cells were transfected with siRNA against MUC5B for 24 h, and PQ was then added for the cytokine test. Phosphorylation levels of ERK, JNK, p38, and p65 were detected by Western blot analysis (d). Quantitative data are provided. (a) MUC5B mRNA expression was detected by RT-qPCR. MUC5B gene expression levels were significantly lower in the siMUC5B+PQ group than in the negative control+PQ group. (b, c) The release of TNF-α and IL-6 into the cell culture medium was detected by ELISA and was also significantly downregulated in the negative control+PQ group. The phosphorylated forms of (e) ERK, (f) JNK, (g) p38, and (h) p65 all kept having the same trend after treatment with siRNA of MUC5B compared with negative control (NC). The results are expressed as the of three different experiments. , , , compared with the no-treatment group; , , , compared with the negative control+PQ group.

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