Figure 3

The PI3K/Akt and p38^MAPK pathways mediate BBS-stimulated COX-2 expression and PGE ₂ synthesis. A) PC-3 cells were treated with 10 nM BBS over a time course, and the levels of phosphorylation (activated) of ERK1 and ERK2 (pERK1 and pERK2), p38^MAPK (pp38^MAPK) and Akt (pAkt) were detected by immunoblotting with phospho-specific antibodies. The level of total Akt was assessed to insure the equivalent loading of protein samples in each lane. B, C) Effects of the p38^MAPK inhibitor SB203580, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002, and the ERK inhibitor, PD98059 on BBS-stimulated COX-2 mRNA (B) and protein (C) expression. Blots were reprobed for 18S ribosomal or β-actin to ensure the equivalent loading and transfer of RNA and protein samples, respectively. D) Effects of the SB203580, LY294002, PD98059 on BBS-stimulated (6 h) PGE₂ elaboration from PC-3 cells [† BBS vs. vehicle, p ≤ 0.01; * BBS+SB203580 or LY294002 vs. BBS alone, p ≤ 0.01, n = 3].