Table 3.

Effect of short peptides on the release of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) by LPS-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and unstimulated cells.

Peptides, 1 mg/mL	The Concentration of Cytokines in % of the “LPS” Control
	TNF-α		IL-1β		IL-6
	With LPS	No LPS	With LPS	No LPS	With LPS	No LPS
KE	16.8 *	3.5 #	56.9	5.4	39.4 *	10.9 #
EW	19.7 *	1.5 #	70.9	12.3	47.5	11.4 #
Thymalin	44.9 *	10.3	37.5 *	12.3	80.0	79.9 #
Control (no LPS or peptides)	17.2		11.4		20.6

Note: The results are expressed as a percentage of the “LPS” control—the concentration of cytokines in samples that were incubated in the presence of LPS without the addition of peptides; data are presented as medians. *—p < 0.05 compared to positive control (LPS), n = 4–8 (Mann–Whitney U test). ^#—p < 0.05 compared to negative control (control cells that were incubated under the same conditions in the absence of LPS and peptides), n = 4 (Mann–Whitney U test).