Figure 3.

Ambient fine particulate matter promotes the secretion of IL‐6 in HUVECs. (A) Cytokines were measured in HUVEC cells treated with PM2.5 (0, 40, and 80 μg·mL⁻¹). IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α, and GM‐CSF were detected, but the levels did not significantly change upon PM2.5 exposure (n = 3). (B) Cytokines were analyzed in the culture medium of HUVEC cells exposed to PM2.5 (0, 40, and 80 μg·mL⁻¹). IL‐6, IL‐8, and GM‐CSF were detected, but only IL‐6 was secreted at a high level and significantly changed upon PM2.5 exposure (n = 3). *P < 0.05. Data for several cytokines (e.g., IL‐2, IL‐10, etc.) are not shown.