ST18 promotes PV serum- and PV IgG-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

<p>NHEKs were transfected with an ST18 expression vector (ST18, dark grey) or control empty vector (EV, light grey). (a,b,c) Supernatants were collected 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post exposure to PV serum or control serum and (a) TNFα, (b) IL-1α and (c) IL-6 secretion was measured as described in Materials and Methods; (d,e,f) Supernatants were collected 6 hours (IL-1α and IL-6) or 24 hours (TNFα) post exposure to PV and control serum or PV and control IgG and (d) TNFα, (e) IL-1α and (f) IL-6 secretion was measured as described in Materials and Methods. Results represent the mean of three independent experiments and are expressed as the relative cytokine secretion in percentage, compared to control (empty vector) ± SE (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 and ****p<0.0001 by 2-tailed t test).