Fig. 3

Aedes aegypti cecropins restrained the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated macrophages. a-e Effects of AeaeCec peptides on phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and NF-κB p65 induced by LPS. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 30 min in the presence of 1.25 μM to 5 μM of individual AeaeCec1 (a), AeaeCec2 (b), AeaeCec3 (c), AeaeCec4 (d) and AeaeCec5(e) peptide. Total and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38 and NF-κB p65 were detected by western blot. f-j The ratios of phosphorylated-ERK, JNK, p38, NF-κB p65 to total ERK, JNK, p38, NF-κB p65 after AeaeCec peptides treatment were determined, respectively. Band densities were analyzed using Quantity One software (Bio-Rad, Richmond, CA, USA). Data are presented as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01