FIG. 7.

Concentration-dependent effects of TNF and IL1B on MMP9 output by E₂ + MPA-treated first-trimester decidual cell monolayers. Confluent, leukocyte-free decidual cells were incubated for 7 days in 10^–8 M E₂ + 10⁻⁷ M MPA, then switched to DM with steroids alone and with IL1B (A) or TNF (B) for 24 h. The abscissa indicates cytokine concentrations in ng/ml units. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels were measured by ELISA in conditioned DM and normalized to cell protein (n = 4; mean ± SEM). *Versus E₂ + MPA; **versus 0.1 ng/ml TNF; P < 0.05.