FIG 7.
Stimulation of PBMCs by USA300 JE2 and its Δlgt mutant cultured in TSB with and without supplemented 50 μM UFFAs. A total of 5 × 105 PBMCs per well (n = 8) were stimulated with S. aureus strains (USA300 JE2 and Δlgt mutant) cultured in TSB medium alone or supplemented with 50 μM UFFAs (C16:1, C18:1, or C18:2); TNF-α production was the readout after 5 h of stimulation. Stimulation was carried out with live bacteria (A) and with 20 ng of crude cell lysates prepared by FastPrep (B). Controls were unstimulated (unst.) and P2C (1 nM) stimulated PMBCs. The experiments in duplicate were conducted at least 3 times. Error bars indicate mean+/−SEM. Statistical significances were calculated to compare test groups with control (TSB) by using unpaired Student's t test. ns, not significant (P > 0.05); *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001.