Fig 2: SIRT1-mediated ADAM17 upregulation activates the cytokine storm. (A–D) NHBE ALI cultures were exposed to CS and infected with five ng p24 equivalent of HIV BaL (R5-tropic strain). Experiments were terminated after 48 h, and the supernatant was analyzed for quantitative measurement of secretory cytokines IL-8/CXCL8 and MCP-1/CCL2, G-CSF and CXCL5. ELISA results demonstrated a significant upregulation of IL-8, CCL2, G-CSF, and CXCL5 in NHBE cells upon infection compared to uninfected controls. (E) Experiments were terminated after 48 h, and total protein was analyzed for proinflammatory cytokine protein levels using RayBio Label-Based (L-Series), Human Antibody Array L-8000 Glass Slide Kit. Heatmap analysis shows the upregulated proinflammatory cytokine protein level, including IL-1α, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, MCP-1, RAGE, S100 A8/A9, TNF-α and TNF-β. n = NHBE ALI cultures from at least three different lungs, * = significant from control (p < 0.05), s = significant between the treatment group.