Fig 7. Bacterial OMVs enhance human MAP3K4 expression.

Human HCT116 cells were incubated with (10 ng) E. coli MG1655-derived OMVs or an equivalent amount of LPS, compared to a mock control. (A) Relative quantification of MAP3K4 mRNA expression by RT-qPCR. Data were normalized with a reference gene (ACTB), reported as fold change vs mock control, and expressed with the relative quantitation method (ΔΔCt). (B) Western blot analysis of MAP3K4 protein expression relative to tubulin. Densitometric analysis of the bands was performed with ImageJ. Data were normalized with a reference gene (tubulin) and expressed as fold change vs mock control. Statistical analysis. Data were calculated from three biological replicate measurements (n = 3; mean ± SD). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Holm-Šídák’s multiple comparisons test (post-hoc test) were used for statistical analysis. Statistically significant differences (fold change vs mock) are indicated as follows: ** p < 0.01; **** p < 0.0001. ns, not significant.