Fig. 1
MKP1 gene expression induced by dexamethasone (DEX) in asthmatic patients. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood of asthmatic patients and then incubated for 18 h in the absence (Con) or presence of dexamethasone (DEX) at 10−6 M or 10−4 M, with/without atopic asthma serum (SE). Following culture, mRNA expression of MKP1 was quantified by realtime-PCR. a and b, Neutrophils respectively from SS asthmatics (a) and SR asthmatics (b) were incubated with dexamethasone (DEX) at 10−6 M or 10−4 M. c, MKP-1 induction by DEX at 10−6 M was significantly greater from SS asthmatics. d, Neutrophils were isolated from asthmatic patients and incubated with DEX 10−4 M, and/or asthmatic serum (SE). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, and *** P < 0.001 compared with the control groups