Fig. 4

Inhibition model of dexamethasone and controls. A model of stimulation and inhibition was standardized using LPS-stimulated PBMNC (as a positive stimulation control) and DEX (as a positive inhibition control). PBMNC were also exposed to each of the three different kinds of SOs without DEX to assess if the SOs had any anti-inflammatory effect (inhibitory effect on TNF-α levels) by themselves. As a negative stimulation control, PBMNC were exposed to RPMI-1640 without any other stimuli. Results are presented in a bar graph where the mean value ± SD is reported in pg/mL. Mann–Whitney U test was used for statistical comparisons. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. BSS basic saline solution, LPS lipopolysaccharide, PBMNC peripheral mononuclear blood cells, SOs silicone oils, DEX dexamethasone, SD standard deviation, WO without