Fig. 4

Inhibition of p38, ERK signaling restores EMT. a Fully differentiated or submerged hNECs were pre-treated with p38 inhibitor (SB203580), ERK inhibitor (PD98059) respectively or both followed by incubation with IFN-γ for 48 h. Representative phase-contrast images of cells were acquired and cell lysates were immunoblotted with indicated antibodies (b). Scale bars, 50 µm. c Comparison of epithelial characteristics derived from normal and patient with CRSwNP. Each of the ALI cultured primary nasal epithelial cells were lysed and evaluated by immunoblot. Densitometric quantification of three separate blots. d Fully differentiated nasal epithelial cells derived from CRSwNP patients were treated with the mixture of p38, ERK inhibitors for 48 h. Indicated proteins were assessed by immunoblot. Densitometric quantification of three separate blots. In all immunoblot analysis, protein intensities (b–d) were quantified by ImageJ software (n = 1, three independent experiments). Representative western blots (b–d) are depicted and expressed as relative band intensity adjusted to the highest band intensity of each protein. Each data (c, d) are expressed as normalized band intensity adjusted to β-tubulin, which serves as loading control. The data are representative of three independent experiments with similar results. Statistical significance for normalized band intensity was determined by Student’s t-test (c) and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (d). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; n.s. not significant. Data are shown as means ± s.e.m