Fig. 4

Effect of IL-6 or sIL-6R on the expression of gp130 and JAK2/STAT3, PI3K/AKT in PECs and TECs. Administration of IL-6 or sIL-6R alone could not promote the expression of gp130, PI3K, and AKT after 24 and 48 h. However, co-culture with both IL-6 and sIL-6R for 48 h could lead to a synergistic increase in gp130 levels, and the increased phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3, which were all notably higher in PECs. By contrast, no increase was observed in the PI3K and AKT expression of both PECs and TECs. Western blot analysis of the control group, IL-6 group, sIL-6R group, and co-cultured IL-6 and sIL-6R group for 48 h were shown in Fig. 4. * P < 0.05; **P < 0.01