Production of inflammatory cytokines stimulated by the light chain in the cultured human renal proximal tubule cells and its suppression by PACAP38 or dexamethasone. (A,C) Time course of TNFα and IL-6 production, respectively. (B,D) Effect of PACAP38 or dexamethasone on LC-induced TNFα and IL-6 production, respectively. Effects of 20 μM U0126, a MEK1/2 inhibitor; 12.5 mM PDTC, a NFκB inhibitor; and 10 μM SB202190, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, are also shown. The vertical columns show the means of 4 replicate determinations with SE of means. ***P < .001 and **P < .01, as compared with respective LC-stimulated value.