Fig. 2

EGR3 downregulation inhibited apoptosis and the inflammatory response in CSE-treated cells. a The transfection efficacy of sh-EGR3 and sh-NC in 16HBE cells was tested by RT-qPCR (n = 3). b The expression of EGR3 in CSE-treated 16HBE cells under indicated treatment was analyzed by RT-qPCR (n = 3). c Flow cytometry analysis was applied to assess apoptosis in CSE-treated cells (n = 3). d Western blot analysis was used to measure the levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3) in CSE-treated 16HBE cells (n = 3). e ELISA was used to measure the concentrations of proinflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and COX2) in CSE-treated 16HBE cells (n = 3). f The protein levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and COX2 in CSE-treated 16HBE cells were measured by western blot analysis (n = 3). **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001