Fig. 1: NF-κB and hedgehog signaling pathways are inactivated in LPS-treated MLE-12 cells cocultured with MSC.

a The cocultured system with LPS-treated MLE-12 cells and MSCs was built. b Luciferase reporter assays detected the relative luciferase activity of various signaling pathways (Notch, Wnt, Nanog, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, Oct4, Hedgehog, MAPK/JNK, and MAPK/ERK) in LPS-treated MLE-12 cells treated with or without MSC. c The mRNA level of Ikbkb, Chuk, Ikbkg, or RelA was examined by RT-qPCR after cocultured with MSC. d Western blot analysis determined the levels of IKKβ, p-IκBα, and p-IκBβ in the whole cell lysates as well as the nuclear protein level of p65 after cocultured with MSCs. e RT-qPCR analyzed the mRNA levels of hedgehog pathway key factors (Shh, Dhh, Ihh, Ptch1, Smo, and Gli1) in control cells and cocultured cells. f The luciferase activity of hedgehog pathway was detected in cocultured cells. g Relative mRNA level of Shh was measured by RT-qPCR in LPS-treated MLE-12 cells under four different conditions (control, MSC, KINK-1, and KINK-1+MSC). h Relative luciferase activity of hedgehog pathway was measured in LPS-treated MLE-12 cells under the same four conditions. **p < 0.01. n.s. no statistical significance.