FIG. 4.
TLR-dependent induction of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion by C. trachomatis in DC. DC (2 × 105) from two human donors were treated with a neutralizing antibody to TLR4 (20 μg/ml) or isotype control antibody 2 h before and during stimulation. DC were either infected with C. trachomatis L2 (MOI, 1:1) or were stimulated with CWS from M. phlei (5 μg/ml). Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA in supernatants taken 24 h postinfection. Data are presented as percent inhibition of antibody treatment compared to the isotype control antibody results. Results are shown as means ± standard deviations (SD) for the two donors tested. The TLR4 antibody treatment used in the study was efficient at the reduction of IL-6 production in DC in response to LPS (1 ng/ml) from 3,600 pg/ml to 400 pg/ml. The figure is representative of three separate experiments.