Fig. 1

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein influences cytokine production. The relative level of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-1α, HMGB1, and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10, IL-4, IL-13, TGF-β1 were measured by ELISA from the culture supernatant of (A) A549 cells transfected with SARS-CoV-2 spike gene construct or empty vector after two days of incubation. B THP-1 cells exposed to CM from spike expressing cells in the presence or absence of ST2825 for two days were analyzed for cytokine production. C THP-1 cells treated with TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1α, HMGB1 for two days. The results are presented as mean ± standard deviation and ‘*’ represents analyses of data only showing statistical significance p < 0.05