Effect of pharmacological p38 and PC-PLC inhibition on NiCl₂-induced MCP-1 promoter and 3xNF-κB–dependent promoter activity in HUVECs.

HUVECs were transiently transfected with an MCP-1 promoter/enhancer construct (A-B) or a 3xNF-κB binding site–containing promoter construct (C-D) according to a DEAE-dextran protocol as described in “Materials and methods.” At 36 hours after transfection, cells were stimulated with 1.5 mM NiCl₂ for 8 hours in the absence or presence of SB202190 (A, C) or D609 (B, D) at the concentrations indicated. Inhibitors were added to the culture medium 30 minutes prior to exposure with NiCl₂. Relative luciferase activity is expressed as fold stimulation. Mean values ± SE from 4 independent transfections are shown.