Figure 4. Genistein inhibits MAPK activation in stimulated microglial cells. A, B: Cells were treated with vehicle or 100 µM of genistein 30 min before (500 μg/ml) glycated albumin treatment for 4 h. Phospho-ERK, total ERK, Phospho-P38, and total P38 MAPK were determined. Each glycated albumin-treated samples with or without genistein were compared with the untreated sample, set as 1.0. Data shown is the mean±SD of three experiments. * p<0.001. C: Contribution of ERK and P38 MAPKs to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) release in response to glycated albumin. Cells were treated with U0126 (10 µM) or with SB203580 (10 µM) either alone or in combination for 30 min. Cells were then treated with glycated albumin (500 μg/ml) for 4 h. TNF-α levels were compared to the vehicle-treated control. Data shown is the mean±SD of three experiments.