Figure 4

Saliva reduces LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion by macrophages. Cells were treated with vehicle (DMSO), saliva (2.4 μg protein/ml), LPS, or saliva + LPS for 18 h. (A) Saliva significantly reduced the relative expression levels of CCL5, soluble TNF Receptor I (sTNFRI), and TNF-α at 0.5 and 1 min exposure times when the cells were stimulated with LPS. (B) Image of blots exposed to film for 1 min corresponding to the treatments in (A), cylinder = CCL5, oval = sTNFRI, and rectangle = TNF-α, (#) p < 0.05 when compared to vehicle control and when LPS was compared to LPS + saliva. Data are means ± SEM normalized to the vehicle treated array reported as relative expression levels determined by densitometry for 0.5 and 1 min exposure times.