G-CSF induced mobilization and homing of progenitor cells. Mice were infected and treated with G-CSF as in Fig. 1. mRNA levels for CXCR4, CD34, c-Kit and SDF-1 in heart tissue of uninfected and infected mice harvested at acute (A) and chronic (B) stages of infection were determined by real time RT-PCR. Transcript levels were normalized against β-actin mRNA. Values are represent the mean ± SD, derived from ≥4-mice/group (*p < 0.05, vs. normal; #p b 0.05, vs. infected). NI: uninfected control, NI + GCSF: uninfected/G-CSF-treated, I: infected, I + GCSF: infected/G-CSF treated.