ATF2 and infection: Since phosphorylated cJUN and ATF2/7 are the major downstream transcription factors for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines through the MAPK pathway (25, 26), they were estimated, and it was demonstrated that inductions of phosphorylated (p)-cJUN and p-ATF2/7 were 4- and 2-fold higher after infection, respectively, whereas MBZM-N-IBT treatment reduced the level of p-cJUN by 5-fold and p-ATF2/7 by 4.5-fold compared to infection (Fig. 3A, F and G).