Figure 3.

EspC enhanced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and costimulatory and MHC molecules on macrophages in a TLR4-dependent manner. (A) TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 production in macrophages derived from TLR4^−/− mice or C57BL/6 mice after treatment with medium alone, EspC (5 μg/mL), or LPS (1 μg/mL). Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. (B) Macrophages from C57BL/6 mice and TLR4^−/− mice were treated with EspC (5 μg/mL) for 24 h and were analyzed to determine the expression of surface markers by flow cytometry. FACS analysis was repeated three times, and all samples were run in duplicate. Data are shown as means ± SEMs (n = 3); ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001.