Figure 2.

Modulation of inflammatory cytokine production by inhibition and induction of autophagy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were pre-incubated for 1 hr with RPMI (negative control), 3-methyl adenine (3MA) 10 mm (inhibition of autophagy), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (400 IE/ml; induction of autophagy) or both 3MA and IFN-γ at 37°. Thereafter, cells were stimulated for 24 hr at 37° with either RPMI or sonicated Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB; 1 μg/ml). Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (a) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (b) concentrations were measured in the supernatant using specific ELISA. Data are presented as means + SEM, n = 6, **P < 0·01.