FIG. 3.

Beta-Defensin 124 (DEFB124) upregulation induces increased production of cytokines and chemokines. DEFB124 promotes mRNA expression for cytokines (A) and chemokines (B) in DEFB124-induced RWPE-1 cells. The mRNA expression of these genes was determined by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Relative expression levels of each gene were calculated from cycle threshold values and were normalized with ACTB, and the expression ratio was calculated against the expression of each gene in the empty vector-transfected RWPE-1 cells. Experiments were repeated at least three times, and data are expressed as the mean±standard error of the mean (SEM). Asterisks, ^* and ^**, represent statistical significance at p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively. (C) DEFB124 is required for cytokine and chemokine production. Supernatants from empty vector- or DEFB124-DDK-Myctransfected RWPE-1 cells were collected. The concentrations of cytokines and chemokines in supernatant were measured by multianalyte enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The diagram shows mean ELISA absorbance values (450 nm) for triplicates with the error bars representing the SEM. Asterisks (^{*, **}, and ^***) represent statistical significance at p<0.02, p<0.005, and p<0.0001, respectively. IL, interleukin.