Figure 3: Shikonin reduced the release of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. | Scientific Reports

Figure 3: Shikonin reduced the release of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6.

From: The protective effects of shikonin on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury are mediated by the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway

Figure 3

(A) The serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 are shown as the mean ± SD (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [7.5 mg/kg] versus I/R, +P <  0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [12.5 mg/kg] versus I/R). (B) The mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 was assessed by RT-PCR. The experiments were repeated three times and the data are shown as the mean ± SD (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [7.5 mg/kg] versus I/R, +P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [12.5 mg/kg] versus I/R). (C) The protein expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 was determined by western blotting and the gray values were calculated (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [7.5 mg/kg] versus I/R, +P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [12.5 mg/kg] versus I/R). (D) Representative immunohistochemical staining (×200) showing the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 at 6 h. The ratio of brown areas to the total area was analyzed with Image-Pro Plus 6.0 (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin versus I/R).

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