*2.5. The E*ff*ects of L5 on CD11c Expression in THP-1 Cell*

Given the higher levels of CD11c expression in patients with high L5% compared to those with normal L5%, we examined whether L5 could induce CD11c expression on THP-1 cells. After a 48-h stimulation with different doses of L5 or L1, we analyzed CD11c expression by flow cytometry analysis (Figure 2C). CD11c expression levels were increased in L5-treated cells (mean ± SEM, 30.00 ± 3.13% in L5 10 μg/mL; 41.46 ± 2.77% in L5 50 μg/mL, *p* < 0.05); the increases were significantly higher than those in L1-treated (21.77 ± 0.83% in L1 10 μg/mL; 22.20 ± 1.28% in L1 50 μg/mL, both *p* < 0.05) or untreated cells (19.82 ± 0.57%, *p* < 0.05, Figure 2D).
