Figure 5

The role of the NF-κB pathway played in the proinflammatory effect of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide on synovial cells. (A-D) Western blot and DNA binding assays were carried out for the selection of effective concentration of Bay 11–7085. CGRP, Calcitonin gene-related peptide; NF-κB, Nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; p-P65, Phosphorylated p65; SP, Substance P. (E-H) Supernatants were collected from each group and prepared for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits specific for interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Mean production (in picograms per milliliter (pg/ml)) of IL-1β and TNF-α in unstimulated synovial cells was used as a control (100% production). IL-1β and TNF-α production (pg/ml) by the other incubation cultures are expressed as the percentage of control. *P < 0.05 versus control. #P < 0.05 versus stimulation with SP or CGRP alone. Three replicates were performed, and the results were averaged. Data are represented as mean ± standard deviation.