Fig. 2.

Effect of dexamethasone (Dexa) on the hypoxia-induced release of H₂O₂ (A) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 (B) by primary cultures of alveolar macrophages (AMO). Cultures were equilibrated with 15% O₂-5%CO₂-balance N₂ (normoxia) and 5% O₂-5% CO₂-balance N₂ (hypoxia). Samples for supernatant MCP-1 concentration were obtained at the end of the normoxic period in the untreated group and at 15 min of hypoxia in the untreated, Dexa AMO, and Dexa rat groups. Dexa rats, AMO harvested from rats treated with dexamethasone; Dexa AMO, AMO from untreated rats to which dexamethasone (1 μM) was added to the supernatant 30 min before the experiment. Data are means ± SE of 5 primary cultures in each group. *P < 0.05 vs. corresponding average H₂O₂ concentration obtained during normoxia (A) and vs. untreated Nx sample (B).