Figure 4.

AEA exerts concentration-dependent effects on the inflammatory cytokine expression and release of human corneal epithelial cells: (A,B) Q-PCR IL-6, IL-8, IL-1α, and IL-1β mRNA expression was determined following 3 h p(I:C) treatment (A) and 12 h after 40 mJ/cm² UVB irradiation (B). Data are presented using the ΔΔCT method compared to 18SRNA (A) and PPIA (B), normalized to the expression of the vehicle-treated control (shown as 100). Data are expressed as mean±SD of 2–3 determinations. One additional experiment yielded similar results. *, **, ***, **** mark significant (p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001) differences compared with the UVB- or the p(I:C)-treated group; #, ##, ###, #### mark significant (p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001) differences compared to the vehicle-treated control. (C,D) ELISA determination of IL-6 and IL-8 in the supernatant of human corneal epithelial cells following 3 h p(I:C) and 12 h after UVB irradiation. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of three determinations. One additional experiment yielded similar results. *, **, ***, **** mark significant (p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, respectively) changes compared to the treated group; #, ##, ###, #### significant (p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001) differences compared to the control.