Fig 1: Exogenously added AAT prevents STS-induced pro-caspase-3 cleavage and suppression of Akt and MAPK pathways. (A) H1975 cells were cultured for 18 h in the medium alone (controls), and in the medium containing 50 nM STS alone or in combination with 1.5 mg/ml AAT. Cell lysates were applied to Western blot analysis. ß-actin was used as a loading control. Fold changes were calculated for each band using the ratio relative to ß-actin, as a loading control, and then normalized by the experimental control. Bars represent mean (SD) of three independent experiments. (B) H1975 cells were incubated for 15 min in medium alone (controls) and in medium containing 50 nM STS, 10 µg/ml LPS, or 1.5 mg/ml AAT alone or in combinations. Cell lysates were applied to Western blot and analysed with AKT/MAPK signalling pathway antibody cocktail targeting AKT1 (phospho S473), ERK1/2 (phospho Y204/197), RP-S6 (phospho S235/236) and p90 RSK (phospho S380). Fold changes were calculated for each band using the ratio relative to Rab11a, as a loading control, and then normalized by the experimental control. Bars represent mean (standard error, SEM) from three independent experiments. Representative blots are shown. p < 0.05 was considered as significant.