IC50 (µM) values of tested compounds for TNF-α release by human monocytes, THP-1 cells and PBMC (n = 3 independent experiments) are estimated using GraphPad PRISM® 5.0 d (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego CA).

The half-maximal inhibition values (IC50) for each tested compounds is determined by fitting the data to the sigmoid dose-response equation:where X is the logarithm of the compound's concentration, Y is the TNF-α release. Bottom the baseline response and Top is the maximum response.Statistical significances: (A) IC50's in THP-1 are significantly different between the 3 compounds; p = 0.027 (Kruskal-Wallis). As a result we could compare each compound individually to the two others (Mann Whitney): Ro-32-7315 vs. Thymoquinone, p = 0.049; Ro-32-7315 vs. Celastrol, p = 0.049; Thymoquinone vs. Celastrol, p = 0.049; (B) same statistical significances in monocytes than in THP-1 cells A. (C) p = 0,039 for PBMC (Kruskall-Wallis); Ro-32-7315 vs. Thymoquinone, p>0.05 (not significant); Ro-32-7315 vs. Celastrol, p = 0.049; Thymoquinone vs. Celastrol, p = 0.049.