Altered response of macrophages to an inflammatory stimulus in an allergic environment

To investigate how an allergic cytokine environment (associated with increased levels of IL4 and IL-13) alters the response of macrophages to a pro-inflammatory stimulus. Murine macrophage-like cells (RAW264) were grown for 48 hr in the presence or absence of the Th2 cytokines, interleukin-4 and interleukin-13. Groups of cells were then stimulated with recombinant murine IL-33. Total RNA was collected after 4 hours and microRNA expression was assessed using Agilent arrays. Samples from four independent experiments were assessed.