Fig. 2

Characteristics of NPs determine inflammatory cell migration and cytokine expressions in murine lung instilled with silica-NPs. A-D. Total cell count (A) and cell differentials including macrophages (B), neutrophils (C) and lymphocytes(D) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 72 h after instillation of silica-NPs. N = 11 in each group. E-G. Chemokine gene expression in lung tissue 6 h after instillation of silica-NPs. Total RNA was isolated from lung tissue from mice 6 h after silica-NPs instillation, and gene expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (MIP1α (E), MIP2 (F), and TNF-α (G)) were determined by qRT-PCR. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM of 3 independent experiments, each comprised of 3 mice per group. H. MIP2 protein concentrationsin left lung lobes harvested 6 h after silica particles instillation were determined by ELISA of the lung homogenates. Data represents mean ± SD of six biological replicates. For all the above figures, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001 by ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison tests