FIG. 4.

Induction of VEGF and IL-8 secretion by B. henselae grown in Schneider's medium. Bacteria were grown either on CBA or in Schneider's medium containing 10% FCS and 5% (wt/vol) sucrose. (A) HeLa 229 cells (VEGF secretion) were infected with B. henselae Marseille (multiplicity of infection [MOI], 250, 500, and 1,000. (B) HUVEC (IL-8 secretion) were infected with B. henselae ATCC 49882 (MOI, 31, 62, 125, and 250). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 25 ng/ml) was used as a positive control. Cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from cell culture supernatants 24 h after infection. Note that no significant differences in their abilities to trigger VEGF or IL-8 secretion were observed between bacteria grown on agar and bacteria grown in liquid culture. Uninfected cells were used as a control. *, significant difference from the control value (VEGF, P < 0.05; IL-8, P < 0.01).