Involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in CXCL12-induced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in WI-38 cells.

<p>A, Cells were pretreated with 10 and 30 µM PD98059 for 30 min and then stimulated with CXCL12 (10 ng/ml) for another 2 h. Whole-cell lysates were prepared and immunodetected with specific antibodies for the CTGF or α-tubulin. Data are presented as the mean ± S.E. of three experiments. *<i>p</i><0.05, compared to CXCL12 treatment. B, Cells were treated with CXCL12 (10 ng/ml) for 0∼20 min. Whole-cell lysates were prepared and immunodetected with specific antibodies for phospho-ERK Tyr 204 or ERK2. Data are presented as the mean ± S.E. of three experiments. *<i>p</i><0.05, compared to the control without CXCL12 stimulation.