Fig. 3
TWE enhances maturation and M2 polarization of macrophages. a-c Either TWE or vehicle was supplemented in the drinking water of B6 mice for 5 days (approximately 2 mg TWE/day). Subsequently, the surface expression of MHC II and CD86 molecules (a) and intracellular IL12p40, IL6, TNFα, iNOS (M1 markers) (b), arginase-1, and IL10 (M2 marker) (c) secretions were assessed by flow cytometry in macrophages (CD11c−CD11b+F4/80+) from the spleen and MLN. The mean values ± SD (n = 5, * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01) are shown. d RAW264.7 cells (1 × 106 cells) were stimulated with TWE (100, 300, 900, and 2700 μg/ml), LPS (1 μg/ml), or vehicle for 12 h. The cell viability (%) was expressed as 7-AAD negative percentage relative to the untreated control cells (n = 3, ** P < 0.01). e, f RAW264.7 cells (1 × 106 cells) were stimulated with TWE (100, 300, and 900 μg/ml) or vehicle in the absence or presence of LPS (1 μg/ml), IFNγ (100 ng/ml), or IL4 (20 ng/ml) for 12 h. The cells were collected, and their productions of iNOS (e) and arginase-1 (f) were determined by flow cytometry