Fig. 7

Alveolar epithelial MAPK signaling modulates microvascular endothelial NRF2-dependent IL-8 expression and secretion. Illustrated representative image of the A ACRE model and B the Alveolar Region Exposure (ARE) model in the absence of endothelial cells following an ACRE-DEP exposure. C IL-8 secretion in the basolateral medium of the ACRE and ARE model after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure. D mRNA expression of IL-8 in the microvascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure. E mRNA expression of IL-8 in the NRF2 KD endothelial cells after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure. F IL-8 secretion in the basolateral medium of the ACRE model after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure with endothelial siNRF2 cells. G mRNA expression of IL-8 in endothelial cells after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure with pre-treated, MAPK inhibited, epithelial cells (DEP + ERKi/p38i). H IL-8 secretion in the basolateral medium of the ACRE model after a 6 h ACRE-DEP exposure with MAPK inhibited epithelial cells (DEP + ERKi/p38i). I Summary illustration. C–H Values represent the mean of n = 3 independent experiments ± SD. Statistically significant differences between VEH, ACRE-DEP, siNRF2, and DEP + ERKi/p38i cells are indicated by *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, and ****p ≤ 0.0001