Figure 4.

RAGE is implicated in CSC-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in pAECs. (A) Quantification of cytokine mRNA expression by RT-qPCR following 48 h of CSC (100 µg/mL) +/− RAP (12.7 µg/mL) treatment of pAECs (n = 6). (B) Pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL8, IL6, IL1β) secretion was quantified by ELLA technology after 48 and 72 h (with 48 h re-treatment) of CSC treatment (n = 4). A comparison of conditions was realized by a Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA test, followed by a Dunn’s post-test. * means p < 0.05, ** means p < 0.01, *** means p < 0.001, and “ns” means “not significant”. Cigarette Smoke Condensate Enhances Gelatinase Activity in pAECs through the RAGE Pathway.