Fig. 2.

Relative mRNA levels of iron-related genes in AKR and C57 hfe−/− mice compared to wild-type mice. RNA pooled from five to eight individuals in each mice group was used for quantitative real-time PCR using SYBR green. Expression values were normalized to the 18SrRNA. Transcript levels of Tfr1 (a), Tfr2 (b), Hamp1 (c), Hamp2 (d), and Slc40a1 (e) from hfe−/− mice were compared to those from wild-type mice. The results are expressed as mean ± SD. ^# Comparisons of the expression levels of genes between KO and WT mice were performed by Student’s t test, p < 0.05; comparisons of the expression ratio of KO to WT between two groups were performed by Student’s t test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.005