Figure 5.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentration in supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures 24 h after incubation with medium, the proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) activating peptide SLIGKV-NH2 (100 μM) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 nM) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n=8), osteoarthritis (OA, n=6) or control (HC, n=6) groups. The basal concentration of IL-6 was substantially higher in the RA group compared with both the OA and HC groups (**p<0.002, one-way ANOVA). Patients with RA also generated significantly more IL-6 in response to SLIGKV-NH2 compared with both OA and HC groups (*p<0.05). Control subjects had a smaller response to LPS than the RA and OA groups (†p<0.05).