Analysis of gene expression changes using Q-RT-PCR at 12 h post SCI. Spinal cord segments, including 5-mm injury epicenter (I) and its adjacent (P1 and D1) 5-mm segments were subjected to Q-RT-PCR analysis. Pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6 and MIP-2 were significantly increased in the I segments, while MCP-1 was increased in both P1 and I segments by comparison to non-injured controls. RG3.6 transplants, like other treatment groups here, did not reduce the level of these pro-inflammatory genes. Tissue protective genes Hsp70, Hsp27, and Hsp32 (HemeOx1) were also significantly increased in the spinal cord after injury by comparison to non-injured controls. In RG3.6 treated group, the increase of Hsp70 was further enhanced in I and in P1 and D1 as compared to other treatments after SCI. Note that in uninjured spinal cord, RG3.6 did not increase Hsp70. Fibroblasts and RG3.6-treated spinal cords showed small but statistically increased up-regulation of HemeOx1 in comparison with medium treated controls. The increased level of Hsp27 after injury is similar in all treatments tested here. Scale represents fold change after normalizing expression to GAPDH. Values are means ± SEM, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, +p < 0.05, ++p < 0.01, +++p < 0.001, #p < 0.05. *RG3.6 transplant versus medium; +, medium versus sham; #, fibroblast transplants versus medium, ANOVA.