FIG. 5.

Elevated expression of AMPs in 3-D endocervical EC after microbial product stimulation. A) ML and 3-D endocervical EC aggregates were profiled for mucins by qRT-PCR analysis. Statistical comparisons were made between ML and 3-D endocervical EC for each gene using the Student t-test. 3-D endocervical EC hBD-1 (B), hBD-2 (C), SLPI (D), and CCL20 (E) expression at 24 h postexposure with TLR agonists. All gene expression was normalized to that of GAPDH. Representative expression levels shown are the mean ± SD values from duplicate samples from at least three independent experiments. Statistical comparisons were made between untreated (untrx) and TLR agonist-treated EC by using the Student t-test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.