Fig 4. Effect of eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors on the expression of Ap-sHSP21.4 in response to NPV.

The larvae were at first injected with different concentrations (in 10 μL DMSO) of either dexamethasone (DEX), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), or indomethacin (INDO). Control larvae were injected with 10 μL of DMSO alone. After keeping the larvae at room temperature for 30 min, the larvae then received a second injection of either insect PBS or 10 μL of NPV (10⁹ /larva). Total RNA was isolated from the fat body (A) and midgut (B) 3 h or 24 h respectively after the second injection, and the Ap-sHSP21.4 gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The mRNA levels are shown as a percentage of the levels in the DMSO control larvae. Bars represent the means ± SD (n = 5).