Figure 1.

Effects of Aspergillus protease on the production of inflammatory mediators. (a) The activity of protease was assessed using a protease activity kit. Trypsin was used as a positive control group. (b) MCP-1, IL-8, and MIG cytokine levels were quantified in BEAS2B cells treated with Aspergillus protease or inactive protease for 1 h using CBA. (c) MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNA expression was quantitated in BEAS2B cells treated with Aspergillus protease. Gene expression levels were normalized to the expression of β-actin mRNA (0: control group; without Aspergillus protease treatment). ^∗P < 0.05 and ^∗∗P < 0.01 compared with the control (0) group.