Figure 2

IL-1β release induced by non-crystalline silica particles in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. The cells were primed for 3 h with and without LPS (25 ng/ml) and subsequent exposed to different non-crystalline silica particles and MinUsil 5 (MinU) for 6 h A) Effects of Si50, Si500, fumed and fused silicas, besides MinU (200 μg/ml) in LPS-primed cells B) Effects with or without LPS and subsequent exposure to Si50 (200 μg/ml) and MinU (200 μg/ml) C) Time-dependent effect (2–10 h) by Si50 (200 μg/ml) on IL-1β release in LPS-primed cells D) Concentration (mass/ml)-response relationships for Si50, Si500, fumed silica (fumed Si) and fused silica (fused Si) on IL-1β release in LPS-primed cells E) IL-1β responses in relation to particle surface areas in LPS-primed cells. The results for Si50, Si500 and fumed silica particles are presented for surface areas. Fused silica particles after wet sedimentation were used. The IL-1β levels were determined by ELISA. In A) the variability of the results are presented by the mean ± SD, including data from 3 to 5 experiments. * = p < 0.05 versus control, using Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s Multiple Comparison test as a post-test. In B-E representative experiments are given, all performed in duplicates as indicated.