Figure 4

Commensal depletion decreased NF-κB DNA-binding activity and increased IL-1β, KC, as well as MIP-2 expression in the lung in C3H/HeN mice but not in C3H/HeJ (TLR4 mutant) mice. (A) Commensal depletion (Comm. depl) decreased the NF-κB activation of lung after E.coli pneumonia and LPS supplementation (Comm. depl + LPS) restored it in C3H/HeN mice but not in C3H/HeJ mice (n = 5). * p < 0.05, vs. control group in C3H/HeN mice. (B) Commensal depletion increased IL-1β protein expression in the lung after E.coli pneumonia and LPS supplementation decreased them in C3H/HeN mice but not in C3H/HeJ mice (n = 5). Signal intensity was determined by densitometry and normalized to β-actin. * p < 0.05, vs. control group in C3H/HeN mice. (C) Commensal depletion increased IL-1β KC, and MIP-2 mRNA expression in the lung after E.coli pneumonia and LPS supplementation alleviated them in C3H/HeN mice but not in C3H/HeJ (TLR4-/-) mice. Signal intensity was determined by densitometry and normalized to β-actin. * p < 0.05, vs. E.coli control group.