Table 2 Level of secondary messengers in cell culture undernatants of the tetra-culture after exposure to 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μg/cm² AgNWs for 6 and 24 h

IL-6

Chemotactic and pro-inflammatory cytokine; supports the growth of B cells

1.18 ± 0.10

6.22 ± 3.23

23.58 ± 1.71*

27.98 ± 5.12*

1.69 ± 0.26

1.76 ± 0.83

13.05 ± 2.46*

34.03 ± 0.80*

IL-8

Chemotactic and pro-inflammatory cytokine

738 ± 33

2216 ± 233*

2599 ± 33*

2621 ± 60*

1423 ± 74

1482 ± 447

2590 ± 22*

2675 ± 57 *

TNF-α

Promotes the inflammation process by upregulation of other pro-inflammatory cytokines

0.83 ± 0.17

3.59 ± 1.34

8.51 ± 1.56*

11.57 ± 3.25*

1.47 ± 0.12

1.74 ± 0.42

5.44 ± 1.22*

10.70 ± 0.45*

IL-1β

Mediator of the inflammatory response

1.69 ± 0.07

3.03 ± 0.53*

5.13 ± 0.27*

5.43 ± 0.59*

3.56 ± 0.22

1.95 ± 0.59*

4.78 ± 0.71*

7.07 ± 0.41*

IL-2

Key functions in the immune system, tolerance and immunity

0.17 ± 0.10

0.62 ± 0.40*

1.65 ± 0.55*

1.53 ± 0.52*

0.34 ± 0.17

0.21 ± 0.21

1.17 ± 0.65

2.52 ± 0.46*

IL-4

Key regulator in humoral and adaptive immunity

0.006 ± 0.011

0.055 ± 0.012*

0.153 ± 0.010*

0.169 ± 0.042*

0.006 ± 0.012

0.034 ± 0.021

0.135 ± 0.022*

0.260 ± 0.024*

IL-12p70

Controls and stimulates the activities of natural killer cells

0.06 ± 0.02

0.35 ± 0.16*

0.66 ± 0.11*

0.92 ± 0.05*

0.14 ± 0.04

0.14 ± 0.11

0.75 ± 0.15*

1.40 ± 0.50*

IL-13

Key regulator in humoral and adaptive immunity proliferation

5.24 ± 0.22

11.94 ± 1.02*

17.16 ± 2.05*

17.65 ± 0.76*

8.94 ± 0.67

6.52 ± 2.08

13.55 ± 1.31*

18.36 ± 2.01*

IL-10

Anti-inflammatory cytokine; downregulates the expression of Th1 cytokines

0.11 ± 0.03

1.44 ± 1.17

2.41 ± 0.79*

2.56 ± 0.47*

0.19 ± 0.04

0.45 ± 0.12

1.63 ± 0.59*

2.57 ± 0.22*

IFN-γ

Immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects

0.13 ± 0.23

0.56 ± 0.59

3.12 ± 0.83*

2.53 ± 1.52*

0.28 ± 0.25

0.54 ± 0.59

2.24 ± 1.59

4.50 ± 0.90*