Figure 3
From: Detection of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in human samples
TNF-α does not suppress AHR agonistic activity in MS sera. (a) TNF-α was quantified by multiplex ELISA in serum samples from healthy controls (HC), patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), or relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS). (b) Linear regression analysis of TNF-α protein levels in human sera and luciferase activity as detected in the transient HEK293 transfection assay system. Dotted lines represent 95% confidence intervals. Numbers indicate R2 and P value of linear regression analysis. (c) MS serum samples were incubated with blocking antibodies to TNF-α or isotype control and added to HEK293 cells transiently transfected with pGud-Luc1.1 and pTK-Renilla. Relative luciferase activity (Firefly luciferase activity/Renilla luciferase activity) was assessed after 24 hours. (d) HEK293 cells transiently transfected with pGud-Luc1.1 and pTK-Renilla were incubated with increasing concentrations of TNF-α in the presence of the AHR ligand Kynurenine. In a, c, and d, data are mean ± s.e.m. n.s. not significant as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test.
