Effects of α-MSH treatment on Caspase 9 activity.

<p>The macrophages were cultured and treated as described in Figure 1 and the lysate was assayed for protein concentration, Caspase 9 activity, and immunoblotted for Caspase 9 protein. <b>A</b>. There was no significant difference seen between α-MSH treated and untreated (SFM) cells. Results presented are the mean ± standard deviation of 3 independent experiments. <b>B</b>. The lysates were immunoblotted with antibody that detected precursor and the activation fragments of Caspase 9. The band intensities were measured and made relative to beta-actin band intensity. <b>C</b>. The ratio of Caspase 9 activation fragments to precursor protein did not change between the untreated SFM cells and the α-MSH treated cells. These results are representative of 3 independent experiments showing that α-MSH has no effect on Caspase 9 activation.