Figure 1

LPS promotes monocyte permissiveness in a dose dependent manner. (A) Monocytes were isolated from seronegative donors and incubated with mock, LPS (50–5000 ng/ml) or differentiated to DCs with IL-4/GMCSF. At 24 hours post LPS cells were infected with Merlin and then stained for IE protein expression 24 hpi. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI and infection rate calculated. Average of 3 donors shown. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01; NS = non-significant difference when compared to infection of monocyte control. (B) Monocytes were incubated with 500 ng/ml of LPS. They were then infected at 24, 48 and 72 hours post LPS and then stained for IE protein expression 24 hpi. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI and infection rate calculated. Average of 3 donors shown. (C) Monocytes were incubated with 50–5000 ng/ml of LPS for 24 hours and then infected with Merlin. At 24hpi non-adherent cells were aspirated and cytospun onto slides. Both fractions were then stained for IE protein expression 24 hpi. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI and infection rate calculated. Average of 3 donors shown. (D) Monocytes were incubated either in non-adherent tubes or on plastic with media alone or 500 ng/ml of LPS for 24 hours and then infected with Merlin. At 24hpi the cell suspension was cytospun onto slides and all samples stained for IE protein expression 24 hpi. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI and infection rate calculated. Average of 3 donors shown. NS = non-significant difference.