4.12. NFκB and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Inhibitors Assay

To explore downstream signaling pathways, rat splenocytes were exposed to Bay 11-7082 (10 μM), a selective inhibitor of IκB-α phosphorylation that blocks the NFκB signaling pathway, or the MAPK inhibitors SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor, 10 μM), PD98059 (ERK1/2, 10 μM) (EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA), or SP600125 (JNK, 10 μM). All the inhibitors were dissolved in DMSO and were added to the culture medium 1 h before the challenge with the different products (without further stimulation).