FIG 8.

SiO₂ NP uptake by DCs is not affected by the presence of bacterial EMs. (A) After incubation at 37°C with FITC-labeled Stöber SiO₂ NPs, bacterial EMs, or E. coli LPS as a positive control, NP uptake by DCs was quantified by flow cytofluorimetry. Data, expressed as MFI, are means ± SEs (n = 2, run in duplicate). The percentage of positive cells is indicated in brackets. *, P < 0.05 with respect to samples treated with NPs alone. (B) DCs were placed on poly-l-lysine-coated slides and left untreated in the heated chamber for 5 min to allow adhesion to the surface of the slides; then, the cells were incubated with FITC-labeled Stöber NPs and bacterial EMs, as indicated, for 2 h, washed, and directly analyzed by confocal microscopy.