FIG. 9.

Effect of anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-8 on hBD2 mRNA induction. HGEC were pretreated with monoclonal anti-human TNF-α antibody and monoclonal anti-human IL-8 antibody (final concentration, 100 ng/ml) for 1 h and then stimulated with heat-inactivated A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 for 12 h. The total RNA was extracted and analyzed using real-time PCR. The results of the real-time PCR are expressed as a ratio comparing the value at time zero to the value at the data time point. The values represent the means and ± standard deviations of triplicate experiments. *, differs significantly (P < 0.01) from cells stimulated with A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 alone.