Canine trophoblasts secrete proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines in response to stimulation with conditioned media (CM) from B. canis-infected monocytes and neutrophils.

Trophoblasts isolated from 12 term placentas were stimulated for 24 h with 1/5 dilutions of the CM. Unstimulated trophoblasts cultured under the same conditions served as controls. Levels of IL-8, IL-6 and RANTES (CCL5) were measured in culture supernatants of trophoblasts stimulated with CM from monocytes (A) or neutrophils (B). Values are means ± SD of duplicate measurements from three independent experiments. Asterisks over bars indicate significant differences as compared to unstimulated trophoblasts (* p<0.05; ** p<0.01; *** p<0.001, ANOVA followed by Tukey᾿s test). C) TNF-α secretion by B. canis-infected canine monocytes and neutrophils. The cells were purified from peripheral blood of 4 healthy dogs, and were infected in vitro with B. canis (MOI 100). TNF-α was measured in culture supernatants at 24 h p.i. Values are means ± SEM of triplicate measurements. Asterisks indicate significant differences as compared to uninfected (control) cells (*** p<0.001, Student᾽s t test).