Anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy followed by celecoxib on progression of gastric precancerous lesions

Figure 1 Effects of celecoxib on COX-2 expression and PGE₂ levels. A: Representative image of COX-2 protein expression as determined by immunostaining in paraffin-embedded gastric tissue sections: (A1) pre-treatment, and (A2) post-treatment with celecoxib; B: Percentage of COX-2 positive cells in gastric mucosa; C: PGE₂ levels. Data are mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.001.

Figure 2 Effects of celecoxib on cell proliferation. A: Representative Ki-67 staining of gastric mucosa before (A1) and after treatment (A2) with celecoxib; B: Celecoxib led to a significant reduction in proliferation index (PI); C: Celecoxib down-regulated mRNA expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). 1 and 2: Plecebo; 3 and 4: Celecoxib. Data are mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.01.

Figure 3 Effects of celecoxib on cell apoptosis. A: Celecoxib induced the apoptosis index (AI) in gastric mucosa; B: Celecoxib up-regulated mRNA expression of Fas, a pro-apoptosis gene. 1 and 2: Plecebo; 3 and 4: Celecoxib. Data are mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.01.

Figure 4 Effects of celecoxib on angiogenesis. A: Representative microvessel image of paraffin-embedded gastric tissue sections stained with CD31. (A1) pre-treatment, and (A2) post-treatment with celecoxib; B: Celecoxib suppressed microvessel density (MVD). Data are mean ± SD. ^bP < 0.001.

Figure 5 Effects of celecoxib on PPARγ protein expression. Representative PPARγ expression in paraffin-embedded gastric tissue sections by immunostaining. (A1) pre-treatment, and (A2) post-treatment with celecoxib. Nuclear staining of PPARγ was markedly increased post-treatment with celecoxib. ^aP < 0.05.