Figure 2.

Effect of AuNPs on the primary response of monocytes exposed to soluble or particulate microbial stimuli. CD14⁺ monocytes were exposed to MDP (10 µg/mL) (A), S. aureus (ratio 1:1; S.a.) (B), β-glucan (2 µg/mL; β-g) (C) or (C) albicans (ratio 0.1:1; C.a.) (D) for 24 h in the presence or absence of AuNPs (20 µg/mL, indicated by blue bars). The inflammatory response is reported in terms of production of TNFα (ng/10⁶ monocytes). Values from individual donors are depicted concurrent with mean cytokine production. Relevant p values are indicated when < 0.05. n = 4 (A, B, D), n = 2 (C).