Figure 4

In response to LPS and surgery challenges, impairment of the cholinergic α7 nAChR pathway in LCR rats enhanced proinflammatory responses in splenic MNCs compared with HCR rats. (A) Decreased cAMP levels in LCR splenic MNCs stimulated with LPS (1 µmol/L); **p < 0.01 HCR compared with LCR. (B) Less inhibitory effects of nicotine on TNF-α levels in LCR splenic MNCs stimulated with LPS; **p < 0.01 HCR compared with LCR. (C) Less inhibitory effects of PHA 568487 (PHA, 1 µmol/L) on p65 NF-κB levels in LCR splenic MNCs stimulated with LPS; **p < 0.01 HCR compared with LCR in PHA 568487 pretreated group; n = 3 in each group; MLA (1 µmol/L) counteracted the inhibitory effects of PHA 568487. (D) Less inhibitory effects of salmeterol on TNF-α levels in LCR splenic MNCs stimulated with LPS; **p < 0.01 HCR compared with LCR in the salmeterol pretreated group. (E) Less effect of salmeterol (1 µmol/L) on increasing IL-10 levels in LCR MNCs stimulated with LPS; **p < 0.01 HCR compared with LCR in the salmeterol pretreated group. Each data point represents one independent experiment. Values are means ± SD.