Fig 1: Enhanced TNF expression in supplemented groups. (A) NLRP3 inflammasome expression was increased in the NaIO3 group, while expression was not altered in the other supplemented groups. (B) ITGAM mRNA expression levels showed a significantly diminished expression in BSA and NaIO3 samples in comparison to CTRL. (C) The inflammation marker TNF was highly upregulated in all supplemented groups compared to CTRLs. (D) No significant differences in IL-6 protein levels in supernatant samples were noted in comparison to CTRLs at day 16. Solely the NaIO3 group demonstrated a significantly decreased IL-6 protein level in supernatants compared to ROOS. (E) At day 24, IL-6 protein level in supernatant samples was significantly diminished in NaIO3 exposed ppRPE cells in comparison to all other groups. (F) On the other hand, IL6 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in ppRPE cells after NaIO3 exposure in contrast to CTRL. (G) IL-8 protein level was significantly diminished in supernatant samples of the NaIO3 group on day 16, when compared to all other groups. On the other hand, in HPR supernatants the IL-8 level was significantly enhanced in contrast to CTRL. (H) At day 24, IL-8 level was significantly reduced in supernatants of the NaIO3 group in comparison to all other groups. (I) IL8 mRNA expression was unaltered in ppRPE samples from all groups. (J) By comparing ELISA measurements between both points in time for each group, the IL-6 levels were significantly higher at day 24 in CTRL, BSA, HPR, and ROOS samples when compared to IL-6 levels at day 16, while no changes were observed in NaIO3 supernatants. (K) The IL-8 levels were similar between both points in time in CTRL, BSA, and ROOS samples. IL-8 levels were found increased in the NaIO3 group at day 24 when compared to day 16, while less IL-8 was noted in HPR supernatants. CTRL, control; BSA, bovine serum albumin; HPR, homogenized porcine retina; ROOS, rod outer segments, values in (D,E,G,H,J,K) are mean ± SEM ± SD and values in (A,B,C,F,I) are median ± quartile ± minimum/maximum, the dotted lines in (A,B,C,F,I) represent the relative expression of the CTRL group, n = 6/group, *p < 0.050, **p < 0.010, ***p < 0.001 vs. CTRL; #p < 0.050, ##p < 0.010, ###p < 0.001 vs. NaIO3; $$p < 0.010 vs. BSA; ¥¥p < 0.010, ¥¥¥p < 0.001 vs. HPR; ••p < 0.010 vs. ROOS.