Fig. 1.

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer reconstitutes Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA expression in airway epithelial cells of TLR2^−/− mice. TLR2^−/− mice were intranasally inoculated with recombinant adenovirus containing murine TLR2 gene (mTLR2-Adv) or control virus (control Adv). Wild-type (TLR2^+/+) mice were instilled intranasally with 1× formation buffer (no Adv) as a vehicle control. Two days later, all of the mice were intranasally treated with saline and killed 24 h later. TLR2 mRNA expression was measured using real-time RT-PCR in mouse bronchial epithelial cells isolated by laser capture microdissection. Relative levels of mRNA expression were normalized to 18S rRNA levels and calculated via comparative cycle of threshold (ΔΔCt) method. Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6–7/group. Results shown are from one representative experiment of two independent experiments. ND, not detectable. *P < 0.05, compared with control Adv-treated mice.