Fig. 2.
CGRP temporarily inhibits particle- and LPS-induced TNF-α secretion in co-cultured THP-1 macrophages. THP-1 macrophage-like cells co-cultured with MG-63 osteoblasts were stimulated with LPS or UHMWPE particles. The effects of CGRP (10−8 M) treatment on co-cultured cells were analyzed. Absolute TNF-α secretion [pg/ml] of co-cultures and controls as per 100.000 cells, activated by high levels of LPS (100 ng/ml) for a 6 h and b 24 h of incubation or activated by UHMWPE (cell-to-particle ratio of 1:500) for c 6 h and d 24 h of incubation as compared to the respective TNF-α secretion of activated cells treated with the neuropeptide CGRP. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001