Fig. 1

PM10 exposure induces cytotoxicity and the production of inflammatory mediators in PBMCs. Cellular cytotoxicity was assessed by LDH release in PBMCs exposed to increasing doses of PM10 (1–400 µg/mL) for 24 h. (A) Percentage of cytotoxicity in PBMCs exposed to PM10. Triton X-100 was used as a positive control; (B-G) Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines quantified by qPCR (fold change) at 18 h of exposure. LPS (0.05 µg/mL) was used as a positive control (H-K) Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from PBMCs exposed to PM10 (1–100 µg/mL) for 24 h and quantified by ELISA (pg/mL). Untreated cells were used as a negative control. Statistical comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test with a 95% confidence level. In case of statistical differences, Dunn’s HDS post hoc tests (or multiple benchmark) were applied (n = 6–8). Significant differences (comparisons with the control) are represented at the top of the bars (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)