RNA induces cytokine production by human coronary arteries in organ culture and this response is augmented by IFN-γ priming. (A) Artery rings were treated with medium alone (None) or LPS, R848, poly(I:C) (pI:C), CpG-containing ssDNA, and ISD dsDNA without CpG sequences at 1 μg/mL for 48 hr. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IP-10 supernatant levels were measured by ELISA. Data are means ± SE (n = 4–18 donors with and without atherosclerotic disease). *P < 0.05 Treated vs. None. (B) Artery rings were pretreated or not with IFN-γ at 40 ng/mL for 72 hr prior to treatment with nucleic acids. Data are means ± SE (n = 13–15 donors with and without atherosclerotic disease). #P < 0.05 IFN-γ-primed vs. Unprimed.