Figure 6. Effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibition by NS-398 (50 μM) and the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide (Triam; 50 μM) on NaCl-induced expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptors-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1ß (IL1B), and transforming growth factor-ß2 (TGFB2) genes in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The mRNA levels were determined with real-time reverse transcription (RT)–PCR in cells cultured 6 h in iso- (control) and hyperosmotic (+ 100 mM NaCl) media, and are expressed as folds of the unstimulated control. Vehicle control was made with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 1:1,000). Each bar represents data obtained in four to ten independent experiments with cell lines from different donors. Each experiment was performed with cell lines from four to six donors; in total, cell lines from nine donors were used for all experiments shown. Statistically significant difference versus unstimulated control: *p<0.05. Statistically significant difference versus NaCl control: ●p<0.05.