Figure 8
Effects of quartz particle surface modification on NF-κB activation and mRNA expression in RLE cells. A. Western blot analysis of Ser32/36 phospho-IκBα and total IκBα expression in RLE cells treated for 20 min with supernatants of macrophages (Q-MS RLE) that were treated either with native quartz or PVNO-modified quartz for 24 h (Q-NR). For phospho-IκBα analysis, TNFα (10 ng/ml, 10 min) was used as positive control. As loading control, blots were reprobed with an antibody against β-tubulin. B and C. Comparison of mRNA levels of iNOS (B), and COX-2 (C) in RLE cells treated with supernatant of macrophages treated with native quartz (Q-MS) or macrophages treated with PVNO-coated quartz (PVNO Q-MS) for 2 h and 4 h, measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Data are expressed as the fold increase of control mRNA levels and were corrected for the housekeeping gene β-actin. D and E. Comparison of mRNA levels of COX-2 (D), and HO-1 (E) in RLE cells treated with 40 μg/cm2 quartz (Q) or 40 μg/cm2 PVNO-coated quartz (Q-PVNO) for 2 or 4 h, measured using quantitative RT-PCR determination. Data are expressed as the fold increase of control mRNA levels and were corrected for the housekeeping gene β-actin. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 vs. control, # P < 0.05 and ## P < 0.01 vs. Q-MS (panel A, B) or vs. Q (panel C, D).