Fig 3.

Citrate affects transactivation of the interleukin (IL)-8 promoter. Human acute monocytic leukaemia cell line (THP-1) cells were transiently transfected with a −162/+44 hIL-8 luc plasmid. Cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h following preincubation with varying concentrations of citrate in either (a) normal medium (0·4 mM calcium) or (b) supplemental calcium medium (1·4 mM). Luciferase activity was measured using a Luciferase Assay System (Promega) and a Spectramax M3 spectrophotometer (Molecular Devices). Data were normalized to the LPS-stimulated sample with no citrate (*P<0·05, n.s. = not significant).