FIG 2.

Effect of fluticasone-treated K. pneumoniae on bronchial epithelial cells. (a) Exposure of BEAS-2B cells to supernatants from fluticasone-treated K. pneumoniae culture, untreated K. pneumoniae culture, or control culture conditions. Reduced metabolic activity (WST-8 assay) was observed in cells exposed to supernatants from fluticasone-conditioned K. pneumoniae. Data represent results from triplicate experiments. (b) Epithelial cells exposed to fluticasone-treated, heat-inactivated K. pneumoniae displayed lower expression of β-defensin 2 (DEF4B), relative to vehicle control (*, P < 0.05 [t test]).