Fig 3. A deficiency of TLR9 suppressed change of cytokine levels caused by chronic stress.

TLR9 knockout mice or wild type BALB/c mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were subjected to a 12 h physical restraint daily. After 2 d stress, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the serum were harvested and the levels of IL-1β, IL-10, IL-17 and IFN-γ in serum were examined by ELISA kit. Means and SEs were calculated from 7 mice per group. ^* p < 0.05, ^** p< 0.01 compared with indicated groups.