FIG. 4.

Inhibitory effects of various peptides on LPS-induced IL-6 production by CHO-CD14 cells (left side of figure) and by human PBMC (right side of figure) in the presence of different concentrations of NHS. E. coli O111:B4 LPS at 1 μg/ml was preincubated with peptides in the presence or absence of NHS at 37°C for 15 min, and the mixture was then added to cells and incubated at 37°C for an additional 2 h in an atmosphere containing 5% CO₂. The supernatants were collected and IL-6 concentration measured by using the B9 cell proliferation assay. The data shown are representative of those obtained in three similar experiments. Panels A to D document the influence of PMB, SAEP-4, SAEP-2, and “nonsense peptide,” respectively, on LPS-induced IL-6 release. The P values shown in parentheses below each horizontal axis indicate the statistical significance, as determined by two-way ANOVA, of differences in IL-6 concentration produced by the material specified for that axis. N.S., not significant (P > 0.05).