IRF8 mediated cross-talk and functional activity of synergistically amplified chemokines.

WT, STAT1^−/− and IRF8^−/− VSMCs and HMECs were treated as described in Fig. 1. A, RNA was isolated and qRT-PCR for IRF8 using GAPDH as internal control was performed in VSMCs (left panel) and ECs (right panel). B, Protein extracts were analyzed for IRF8, tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT1, total STAT1 and GAPDH. C, CCL5 mRNA expression (left panel) and protein presence in the medium (right panel) was measured. D, Expression profiles of Cxcl9 (left panel) and Cxcl10 (right panel) between VSMCs WT, and IRF8^−/− were compared. E, Migration assay of CD45⁺/CD3⁺ performed on conditioned medium remained after treatment of VSMCs WT and STAT1^−/−. Data represent means of at least 3 independent biological experiments ±SEM and p<0.05 was considered as significant. Data were tested for significance by one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc Tukey or unpaired two-tailed student T-test when appropriate.