Effect of bicarbonate PDF and glycated albumin on C3 secretion. Quiescent HPMCs were treated with PDF of different strengths, glycated BSA (0·25 µg/ml), or BSA (0·25 µg/ml) in M199. Incubation with 10 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in M199 served as positive control. After 48 h, culture supernatants were harvested for C3 ELISA. The glucose concentrations of 1·5%, 2·5%, and 4% solutions are 83 mm, 138 mm, and 220 mm, respectively. Results were obtained from triplicate experiments. *P = 0·000 compared to medium control.