Fig. 3.
Effect of ES on the gene expression of (a) IL-1β, (b) IL-8 and (c) TNF-α in P. acnes-induced THP-1 cells. The expression level of mRNA was determined using a Real-time PCR. THP-1 cells were pre-treated with 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/ml of ES for 4 hrs incubation and then stimulated with P. acnes for 18 hrs incubation. Values represent mean ± S.E.M. Data were analyzed by Tukey post hoc test ( * p < 0.05 versus control and ** p < 0.05 versus P.acnes alone)