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. 2015 May 15;10(5):e0126906. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126906

Fig 3. Systemic and lung cytokine and chemokine levels in LCR and HCR rats infected with S. aureus.

Fig 3

LCR rats (Circles) and HCR rats (Squares) were challenged IV with S. aureus (n = 7/group). Levels of IL-6, IL-10, MIP-2, and 1L-17A were quantified in the serum, BALF, and lung homogenates 48 h after challenge with S. aureus. Compared with infected HCR rats, infected LCR rats had higher levels of IL-6 in plasmas, BALF and lung homogenates (**p = 0.007, **p = 0.0006, and *p = 0.0262, respectively), higher levels of MIP-2 in plasmas and lung homogenates (**p = 0.004 and **p = 0.0006, respectively), and higher levels of IL-17A in lung homogenates (**p = 0.0006). In contrast, compared with infected HCR rats, infected LCR rats had lower levels of IL-10 in plasmas, BALF and lung homogenates (**p = 0.007, ***p = 0.0006, and **p = 0.0041, respectively). The figures show levels of cytokines after subtracting out the values measured in control rats treated with sterile saline from the values measured in rats treated with S. aureus (i.e.: cytokine value shown on Y axis for LCR rats = cytokine level of LCR with S. aureus infection—cytokine level of LCR rat treated with sterile saline, similarly for HCR rats). Data were analyzed using Mann Whitney U tests; results are expressed as median with interquartile range. HCR = high capacity runner; LCR = low capacity runner; BALF = bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; IL = interleukin; MIP = macrophage inflammatory protein.