<p><b>A</b>. IL-6 release was determined by ELISA in culture supernatants harvested 3 h, 6 h and 24 h after stimulation with LPS (1 µg/ml) or medium (C). <b>B, C</b>. TNF-α release by RA FLS and THP-1 cells was determined by ELISA in culture supernatants harvested 3 h, 6 h and 24 h after stimulation with LPS or medium (C). Data are expressed as the mean of triplicate samples ± SD and are representative of three independent experiments. <b>D</b>. TNF-α expression was determined by western-blotting with anti-TNF-α antibodies in RA FLS, 3 h, 6 h and 24 h after stimulation with LPS or medium (C). Recombinant TNF-α was used as control. For protein loading control, membranes were reprobed with anti-β-actin antibodies. Data are expressed as the mean of triplicate samples +/− SD of three independent experiments for each patient.</p
