Fig. 1

Th-17 regulatory cytokine-induce anti-apoptotic effect on ASMCs, endothelial cells and fibroblasts to dexamethasone. Primary human lung ASMC, fibroblasts, and HMVEC-L endothelial cells were stimulated with individual (IL-21, IL-22, IL-23) and combinations (IL-21+IL-22, IL-22+IL-23, IL-21+IL-23, IL-21+IL-22+IL-23) of cytokines for 1 h and subsequently exposed to dexamethasone (5 μM) for 24 h. The percentage of apoptotic cells were quantified by flow cytometry using Annexin V-PE and PI. Apoptotic cells were categorised as being Annexin V+ve but PI-ve. a Representative FACS data showing Th-17 cytokine inhibition of dexamethasone induced apoptosis of fibroblasts. Percentage of apoptosis following treatment with cytokines is shown for (b) ASM cells (c) Endothelial cells and (d) Fibroblasts. (n = 8 for each cell type). Apoptosis of cells treated only with dexamethasone were compared to non-treated cells. Apoptosis of cells treated with Dexamethasone and cytokines were compared to cells treated only with Dexamethasone. Data is expressed as means ± SE. * p ≤0.05; **p ≤0.01; ***p ≤0.001