Fig. 3

DHT inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines mediated by NF-κB in mice and in cardiomyocytes. a Western blotting showed that DHT downregulated the expressions of activated NF-κB, TNF-α, COX2 and IL-8 in mice. N = 5 per group. All data were presented as means ± SD. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001 is significantly different as indicated, for values in the DOX group. b Quantification of TNF-α level in heart tissue. N = 5 per group. c IHC and quantitative results showed that DHT or Rapamycin suppressed the expression of TNF-α, scale bar = 20 μm. N = 5 per group. CCK-8 assay results showed the non-toxic range of concentration (d) and the protective concentrations (e). N = 12 per group. f Western blotting showed that DHT downregulated the expressions of activated NF-κB, TNF-α, COX2 in cardiomyocytes. N = 5 per group. All data were presented as means ± SD in triplicate. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001 is significantly different as indicated, for values in the DOX group