Fig. 3. Reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by chelating intracellular Ca²⁺ in human PDL fibroblasts exposed to bacterial PAMPs and allergic mediators. (A) The human PDL fibroblasts were pretreated with 5 µM 1,2-bis (o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA)-AM for 30 min and then stimulated with either 20 µg/ml LPS, 50 µg/ml PGN, 1 µM trypsin, 1 Unit thrombin, 50 µg/ml GCE, or 50 µg/ml HDM for 3 h. The total mRNA of the stimulated human PDL fibroblasts was extracted and amplified with IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and GAPDH specific primers. (B~D) The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were quantified after the value was normalized to the expression level of GAPDH. Data are a mean±SE of values from more than five independent experiments. ^*p<0.05, ^**p<0.01 versus control.