FIGURE 5.

A positive feedback loop connects STAT and inflammation. (a) SA‐β‐gal, γ‐H2AX, and DHE (for ROS detection) staining in HUVECs stimulated with or without IL‐1β (20 ng/ml) for 48 h. (b) Quantification of IL‐6 production by ELISA in supernatants collected from cells cultured in the presence or absence of IL‐1β for 48 h. (c) Culture media from control cells or cells exposed to cytokines for 3 days were collected, centrifuged, filtered, and mixed with culture medium at a 1:2 ratio (culture supernatants: Culture medium). Cells were then treated with control conditioned medium or conditioned medium derived from cells exposed to cytokines for 24 h and analyzed for ACE2, STAT1, and NLRP3 mRNA. (d) Quantification of STAT1, STAT3, and NLRP3 mRNA in controls or 24 h after withdrawal of the cytokines, TNF‐α + IFN‐γ. data are representative of three (a–d) independent experiments. Error bars show mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, or ***p < 0.001