Figure 4.

The canonical but not the alternative NFκB pathway in APCs is activated by CT and involved in its adjuvant activity. Purified human CD14⁺ monocytes (A,C–E) or DCs (B) were incubated for 1 h with the NFκB specific inhibitor CAPE (A,B), or as a control with a COX inhibitor (Aspirin) (C), or for 24 h with siRNAs specific for RelA involved in the canonical (classical) NFκB pathway (D), All-Star Control (D, E), or RelB involved in the alternative pathway (E). Cells were then further treated for 16 h with 1 μg/ml CT or medium and then washed and co-cultured for 3 days with autologous CD4⁺ T cells plus SEB. Three separate experiments were performed, each including separate tests on cells from 3 to 5 individuals, and the data shown are the mean values plus SEMs of IL-17A levels in culture supernatants from all individuals measured by ELISA. ^*represents p < 0.05 for compared values.