Fig. 3.

IL-22 strengthens the antibacterial defense of airway epithelial cells. a A549 human lung epithelial cells were cultured in the presence or absence (control) of IL-22, its inhibitor IL-22BP, or a combination of IL-22 and IL-22BP for 48 h. b BALB/c mice were i.p. injected with PBS (control) or IL-22. At the indicated time points after injection, mice were sacrificed and lung tissue was taken for analysis of S100A9 expression by RT-qPCR. Data of 4 (0 h control and PBS) or 3 (IL-22) mice per group are given as mean ± SEM. c A549 human lung epithelial cells were pretreated or not with 3 μg/ml EPs® 7630 for 24 h followed by stimulation with IL-22, IL-17A, IFN-γ, or the combination of IL-17A and IL-22 for 48 h or were left unstimulated (control). a, c Expression of S100A9, LCN2, and MX1 was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Data of 7 (a) or 3–4 (c) independent experiments are given as mean ± SEM. Significant differences among treatment groups are indicated (*p < 0.05, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test)