Fig. 5

Increased secretion levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ZAAT polymers by AATD macrophages in response to cigarette smoke—induced EVs. A The levels of secreted cytokines in the conditioned media of normal and AATD macrophages incubated with control or cigarette smoke-induced EVs. B NF-κB pathway was inhibited in AATD macrophages using TPCA-1 and the secretion levels of IL-8 and GM-CSF in response to cigarette smoke -induced EVs were measured. C The levels of secreted cytokines presented in a heatmap graph. D The levels of polymeric AAT in the conditioned media from the normal and AATD macrophages incubated with control or cigarette smoke-induced EVs. E Signal intensity quantification of polymers in AATD macrophages conditioned media. F Total AAT levels were also measured in the conditioned media of normal and AATD macrophages. G The protein expression levels of ER markers were also measured by western blot analysis. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005