Fig. 2: Expression of cytokines by cord blood monocytes after stimulation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

CBMC were isolated, cultured overnight and stimulated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) in a MOI of 1:0.1 and 1:1 for one hour. Afterwards brefeldin was added and cells were cultured for another four hours. LPS stimulated cells served as control. Expression of IL-1β, IL-8, TNFα and TGF-β was determined after intracellular staining by flow cytometry. a, d, g, j Representative density plots show expression of IL-1β (a), IL-8 (d), TNF-α (g) and TGF-β (j) on unstimulated monocytes (ctrl) and monocytes after stimulation with LR in a MOI of 1:1 (LR 1:1). b, e, h, k Scatter plots with bars show percentages of cord blood monocytes expressing IL-1β (b), IL-8 (e), TNF-α (h) and TGF-β (k) without stimulation (white bars) and after stimulation of LR in different MOIs (grey bars) or after stimulation with LPS (black bars). c, f, i, l Scatter plots with bars show the mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) for expression of IL­1β (c), IL-8 (f), TNF-α (i) and TGF-β (l) in cord blood monocytes without stimulation (white bars) and after stimulation of LR in different MOIs (grey bars) or after stimulation with LPS (black bars). n = 5–7, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ns not significant; Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test (b, e, h, k) and paired t test (c, f, i, l).