Fig. 5

NET DNA activated macrophages are pivotal to the proinflammatory response in AOSD. a THP-1-derived macrophages were cultured with purified neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) DNA. After 4 h the cells were stained for cell surface markers using specific monoclonal antibodies or the corresponding isotype controls (right panels). Cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The percentages of proinflammatory macrophages (CD68⁺CD86⁺) are indicated (left). The levels of mRNA and protein of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in these THP-1-derived macrophages were measured using RT-PCR (b) and ELISA analysis (c). The histograms show the means ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. AOSD adult-onset Still’s disease, HC healthy controls