FIG. 5.

Morphological apoptosis of human neutrophils incubated in vitro with proteinase K- or periodate-treated purified HGE agent. Treatment of purified HGE agent with proteinase K completely eliminated the antiapoptotic effect of the purified HGE agent. However, periodate treatment did not change the antiapoptotic effect of the purified HGE agent. The results were significantly (∗, P < 0.05; ∗∗, P < 0.01) different from those with medium alone (n = 3 assays using neutrophils derived from a single donor). A representative experiment is shown from three independent experiments performed, each with neutrophils derived from different donors.