Fig. 1

Illicium v. inhibits inflammatory gene expression in TNF-α-stimulated human aortic smooth muscle cells. a Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were treated with or without Illicium v. (10–100 μg/mL) for 24 h. After incubation, cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. b HASMCs were transiently transfected with pGL4.32-NF-κB, a renilla luciferase control reporter vector, and then treated with or without Illicium v. (10–100 μg/mL), followed by incubation with 10 ng/mL TNF-α for 24 h. NF-κB transcription activity was determined using a luciferase reporter assay. c Protein samples from HASMCs, treated with or without Illicium v. (10–100 μg/mL) and 10 ng/mL TNF-α for 24 h, examined by western blot analysis for NF-κB protein expression. d Protein expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM, and E-selectin). All data represent mean values ± SEM. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus control; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 versus HFD