Figure 5. mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

(A, B, and C) Total RNA was collected, reverse transcribed to cDNA, and analyzed by qPCR to assay the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The expression levels of these three cytokines were analyzed at each time point and are expressed as the fold change relative to the mRNA level in control cells exposed to PBS only. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments. *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001.