Systemic Inhibition of NF-κB Activation Protects from Silicosis
Figure 7
Clara cell expression of a dominant-negative (dn) IκBα protein alters TNFα, and MMP2, but not α1(I) collagen and TIMP-1, mRNA expression in response to silica.
Densitometry analysis of Northern blots of TNF, α1(I) collagen, MMP2, TIMP-1, and 18S (loading control) mRNA expression in CCSP-dnIκB mouse lung 28 days following the intratracheal injection of saline as control, or silica as described in the Methods section. Compared to their wild type littermates, CCSP-dnIkB transgenic mice significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the enhanced expression of TNFα and MMP2 mRNA induced by silica in the mouse lung. Figure illustrate results obtained from five set of mice exposed to silica or saline as control. * Indicates statistically significant difference compared to saline treated mice. † Indicates statistically significant difference compared to wild-type non-transgenic mice.