Effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine, genistein, PD98059, and SB203580 on NF-κB stimulation by CML-HSA. Effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine, genistein, PD98059, and SB203580 on NF-κB stimulation by CML-HSA. THP-1 cells transfected with the NF-κB reporter were preincubated with the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC, 500 μmol/l), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (100 μmol/l), an MEK-1 inhibitor (PD98059, 50 μmol/l), or a p38 inhibitor (SB203580, 10 μmol/l) at 37°C for 30 min. The cells were then exposed to 100 μg/ml CML-HSA for another 1 h and lysates were assayed for luciferase activity. NF-κB reporter activity with HSA treatment was defined as 100%. All values represent the means ± SE of at least three independent experiments (*P < 0.05). Chen-Hsiung Yeh et al. Diabetes 2001;50:1495-1504 ©2001 by American Diabetes Association