The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) of Chlamydophila psittaci Is Involved in the Host Inflammatory Response by Activating the JNK/ERK Signaling Pathway

Figure 4

Production of inflammation cytokines and the MAPK pathway assay of C. psittaci-infected THP-1 cells treated with a p38, JNK, or ERK inhibitor. THP-1 cells were pretreated with a p38, JNK, or ERK inhibitor and infected with C. psittaci. The supernatants were collected, and the production of IL-8 (a), IL-6 (b), TNF-α (c), and IL-1β (d) was detected using an ELISA kit. Inclusion-forming units (IFUs) were counted by indirect immunofluorescence staining (e). The monolayer cells were harvested and homogenized. The levels of phospho-p38 (f), phospho-JNK (g), and phospho-ERK (h) were analyzed by Western blot analysis. These inhibitors did not inhibit the Cps growth. The JNK and ERK inhibitors decreased the production of IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β; the p38 inhibitor did not decrease the production of these cytokines. compared with the Cps group.

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