NFAT induces HIF-1 activity and the HIF-1α promoter. (A) RAW264.7 cells were transfected with the pGL-3xEPO-HRE plasmid, cotransfected with a control plasmid (CP) or an NFAT expression plasmid (NFAT-EP), treated with CM_AC-J, or remained as controls for 16 hours. (B) RAW264.7 cells were transfected with the HIF-1α-luciferase promoter plasmid, cotransfected with a control plasmid (CP) or the NFAT-EP, and treated in the absence or presence of CsA (preincubated for 1 hour) with CM_AC-J, or remained as controls for 16 hours. Luciferase activity was normalized to protein. Control conditions were set to 1. Data are the mean ± SD (n ≥ 3). *Significant alterations compared with controls (or otherwise as indicated).