PGE₂ selectively enhances IL-12p40 production in TNFα-stimulated DCs, but does not induce IL-12p70 production.

(A) DCs (4 × 10⁴ cells in 0.2 mL) were stimulated with TNFα (50 ng/mL) and increasing concentrations of PGE₂ for 48 hours. The data are shown as mean (± SD) of triplicate cultures and represent one experiment of 3 that gave similar results. ▵, IL-12p40; ●, IL-12p70. (B) DCs (4 × 10⁴ cells in 0.2 mL) were stimulated for 48 hours with one of the following stimuli: TNFα (50 ng/mL), PGE₂ (10⁻⁶M), or their combination, or LPS (250 ng/mL) in the absence (▤) or presence (▨) of IFNγ (1000 U/mL). The 48-hour culture supernatants were harvested and analyzed for IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 contents with specific ELISAs. The data are shown as mean (± SD) of triplicate cultures and represent one experiment of 5 that all gave similar results.