Fig. 5From: Urban particulate matter (PM) suppresses airway antibacterial defenceThe mRNA expressions of the antimicrobial peptides in airway epithelial cells. The mRNA expressions of the antimicrobial peptides in airway epithelial cells were detected by RT-PCR. a Lactoferrin; b SLPI; c CCL- 20; d LL-37; e hBD-1; f hBD-2; g hBD-3; h hBD-4. Control, untreated cells; PAO1, infected cells; PM, PM-exposed cells; PAO1 + PM, exposed to exposed to PM and subsequently infected with P. aeruginosa; SLPI, secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor; CCL-20, C-C motif chemokine ligand 20; hBD-1-4, human defensin-1-4. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus Control. #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01 versus PMBack to article page