Fig 2. Ureaplasma-driven caspase mRNA and protein responses in A549 cells.
After 4 and 30 h stimulation of A549 cells, mRNA levels of caspase (CASP) 3 (a), caspase 4 (b), caspase 5 (c), caspase 8 (d), and caspase 9 (e) were assessed via qRT-PCR, and relative expression was calculated using the ΔΔCT method. After 24 h stimulation, the percentage of viable, active caspase 3 (f), caspase 8 (g), and active caspase 9 (h) positive A549 cells was determined by flow cytometry (the respective gating strategy is illustrated in S1 Fig). Data are shown as means ± SD and were obtained from n ≥ 3 independent experiments. Cells stimulated with LPS were compared vs. control, cells exposed to Ureaplasma isolates vs. control and vs. broth. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001 compared to untreated controls; † p < 0.05, †† p < 0.01, and ††† p < 0.001 compared to cells treated with broth. SV8: Ureaplasma urealyticum serovar 8, SV3: Ureaplasma parvum serovar 3.