FIG 9.

The activity of pLL is not affected by carbohydrate oxidation. BMDCs were exposed to the indicated doses of FD-pLL (μg), previously subjected to oxidation of carbohydrates with sodium periodate followed by reduction of aldehydes with sodium borohydride; to a mock treatment consisting of reduction with borohydride only; or to incubation with neutral buffer. The cells were stimulated or not with LPS, as indicated, and CD86 and CD40 expression and IL-10 and IL-12/23p40 in supernatants were measured. None of the preparations induced cytokines or CD40 upregulation in the absence of LPS. The error bars correspond to SD of triplicate (cytokines) or duplicate (surface molecules) wells. ANOVA gave overall P values of <0.0001 (cytokines), <0.001 (CD86), and <0.01 (CD40). Significant differences caused by the presence of untreated or treated pLL (in comparison with medium alone or LPS alone) are not indicated. The results shown are representative of 4 independent experiments.