Elevated p-p38 and decreased p-Akt in BM EPCs from corticosteroid-resistant ITP patients. Flow cytometry revealed elevated (A) p-p38 and decreased (B) p-Akt, whereas no significant differences in (C) p-ERK or (D) p-JNK expression in precultivated BM EPCs among patients with corticosteroid-resistant ITP, corticosteroid-sensitive ITP, and healthy controls (Normal) were observed. The data were expressed as the MFI (means ± SEM). (E) Representative western blots of p-p38, total p38, p-Akt, total Akt, p-ERK, total ERK, p-JNK, total JNK, and actin in cultivated BM EPCs at day 7 in culture among patients with corticosteroid-resistant ITP, corticosteroid-sensitive ITP, and healthy controls. Subject variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. All P values <.05 were considered significant and were provided in the figure.