Rapamycin suppressed inflammatory molecules in the retina during inflammation.

<p>Immunoblot analysis showed that phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells p65 (pNF-κBp65) was increased in the retina 3 hours after the induction of inflammation by an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and that this was attenuated by the rapamycin treatment (A, B). ELISA assays showed that the protein levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were increased in the retina 12 hours after the induction of inflammation, and that these changes were attenuated by the rapamycin treatment (C, D). Real-time PCR showed that the mRNA levels of both <i>IL-6</i> and <i>MCP-1</i> were increased 6 hours after the induction of inflammation, and that the mRNA level of <i>IL-6</i> (E), but not that of <i>MCP-1</i> (F), was attenuated by the rapamycin treatment. Immunoblot analyses showed that the expression level of phosphorylated and activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) was increased at 12 hours after inflammation, and that this increase was attenuated by the rapamycin treatment (G, H); n = 5. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.