Figure 2. Mapracorat and dexamethasone induce caspase-3 activation in human eosinophils. Control cells were cultured for 24 h in 0.1% fetal bovine serum and in the absence of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin-5 and were treated with mapracorat or dexamethasone (0.001–10 μM). Alternatively, eosinophils were exposed to the vehicle alone. A: A representative western blot, repeated at least six times using different eosinophil cell cultures, with similar results, showing the bands of apparent molecular weights of caspase-3 of approximately 32 kDa and 17 kDa and beta-actin of approximately 42 kDa. B: Densitometric analysis of the bands of caspase-3 fragment of approximately 32 kDa. C: Densitometric analysis of the bands of caspase-3 fragment of approximately 17 kDa. The approximate molecular mass of the fragments of 32 and 17 kDa was determined by comparison with molecular mass standards. The relative optical density of each band was determined by densitometry and defined by normalization of the bands of capsase-3 32 kDa or 17 kDa to the β-actin band. A total of 50 μg of protein extract was loaded and separated in a polyacrylamide gel, as described under “Methods..” Data are presented as mean±standard, n=6. *Versus controls; p value (p)<0.05. **Versus controls; p<0.01. ***Versus controls; p<0.001. Abbreviations: Ctrl represents controls; p32 represents apparent molecular weight of caspase-3 of approximately 32 kDa; p17 represents apparent molecular weight of caspase-3 of approximately 17 kDa.