Fig. 4.

Bacterial-associated dsDNA promotes DC maturation through activating STING. (A) Preparation of BCMs (biofilm-conditioned mediums) and DCMs (DC-conditioned mediums). (B) The proportion of mature DCs (CD86⁺CD80⁺) measured by flow cytometry. DNase I was used to eliminate dsDNA in BCMs. (C) Representative WB bands of proteins and their phosphorylated forms associated with the cGAS-STING pathway in different treated DCs. (D) Concentration of IFN-β secreted by DCs into mediums after co-culture with different BCMs. (E) Relative expression levels of genes related to immune activation in DCs treated with different BCMs. (F) Concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 secreted by DCs into medium after co-culture with different BCMs. (G) CD206 expression levels in DCs assessed by immunofluorescence staining. DFO is used to chelate iron ions in BCMs. Green for CD206, red for cytoskeleton, and blue for nucleus. (H) Relative fluorescence intensity of CD206 expressed by DCs in different groups. (I) The expression levels of genes associated with antigen presentation in DCs after co-culture with BCMs. (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, and ns means no significance).