Figure 4
LPS triggers TLR4 dependent activation of CD8+ T cells isolated from RA patients augmenting cytotoxic and inflammatory lymphocyte responses. CD8+ T cells isolated from RA (n = 6) and HC (n = 6) blood samples were pre-stimulated with 5 µM of VIPER and 5 µM CP7 for 2 hours and then treated with 5 µg/ml LPS for 6 hours. These cells were then evaluated for relative mRNA expression with respect to β-actin for TLR4 (a), Granzyme B (b), Perforin (c), TNFα (d) and IFNγ (e). Pre-stimulation of VIPER significantly inhibited the expression of all mediators while the inert peptide CP7 had no effect. (f) The graph shows percent CD8+ T cells expressing TLR4, Granzyme B, Perforin, TNFα and IFNγ proteins in the experimental set up. Bars represent the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
