IL-38 Alleviates Inflammation in Sepsis in Mice by Inhibiting Macrophage Apoptosis and Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Figure 2

Effects of IL-38 on macrophage functions under LPS stimulation. (a) Phagocytic activity of peritoneal mouse macrophages upon LPS stimulation (1 μg/mL) and treatment with IL-38 at the indicated concentrations and time. Phagocytic activity was measured using the OD540 test. Phagocytic activity of macrophages treated with LPS (1 μg/mL) and IL-38 (200 ng/mL) for 24 h in the right panel. Shown are arbitrary numbers. (b) Killing of L1210 cells by macrophages treated as indicated. Shown are arbitrary numbers. Killing activity of macrophages treated with LPS (1 μg/mL) and IL-38 (200 ng/mL) for 24 h in the right panel. and , vs. the NC group. NC was PBS treatment. independent experiments. (c) Representative flow cytometry plots of macrophages treated for 24 h with PBS or LPS (1 μg/mL) alone or with recombinant IL-38 (200 ng/mL). The M1 phenotype was F4/80⁺ CD11b⁺, and the M2 phenotype was F4/80⁺ CD206⁺. Quantification of the experiment shown in the panel. The normal control (NC) group was PBS treatment. and vs. the NC group. ^##vs. the LPS group. independent experiments.

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