Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Fructose utilization by GM-CSF-differentiated macrophages aggravates autoimmune inflammation via MG-derived AGE–RAGE signaling
doi: 10.64898/2026.01.26.701899
Figure Lengend Snippet: A. GM-CSF human macrophages were stimulated with LPS (50 ng/mL) for 18 h in glucose-, fructose- (10 mM), or sugar-free media. IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-23 levels were quantified by ELISA. For IL-1β detection, 4 mM ATP was added during the final 2 h (n = 6). B. IL1B mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR under identical conditions (n = 5). C. Immunoblotting of cell lysates and supernatants from (A) was performed to assess pro- and mature (m) forms of IL-1β and caspase-1 (Casp-1). Band intensities were quantified by densitometry and normalized to β-actin (n = 5). D–E. Glycolytic activity was assessed by Seahorse extracellular flux analysis of ECAR following sequential injection of glucose, fructose (10 mM), or no sugar, followed by oligomycin (2 µM) and 2-DG (50 mM). Data represents five technical replicates (n = 3). F. HIF-1α protein and mRNA levels were measured in LPS-stimulated GM-CSF macrophages under indicated sugar conditions (n = 3–4). G–J. SKG mice were injected with curdlan to induce arthritis and administered fructose in drinking water starting 3 days prior to immunization. Glucose levels in serum and synovial fluid (SF) were assessed at day 42 (n = 5–8). H–I. mRNA levels of Hif1a and HIF-1α target genes in synovial cells were analyzed by RT-qPCR (n = 5). J. Intracellular HIF-1α expression was measured by flow cytometry in CD45⁺CD11b⁺F4/80⁺ synovial cells (n = 9–10). Graphs represent mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; **** p < 0.0001 by Mann–Whitney U test (A–C, E–J) or unpaired t-test (D, F).
Article Snippet: Cells were plated in 96-well U-bottom plates and stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28-coated beads for 7 days under the following cytokine conditions: recombinant human (rh) IL-1β (30 ng/mL), rhIL-6 (30 ng/mL), rhIL-23 (10 ng/mL), and rhTGF-β (10 ng/mL) (all from R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) for Th17 polarization, rhIL-2 (100 IU/mL; PeproTech) and rhIL-12 (10 ng/mL; R&D Systems) for Th1 polarization, and rhIL-2 (100 IU/mL) alone for non-polarizing control.
Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Activity Assay, Injection, Flow Cytometry, MANN-WHITNEY