FIG 2.
Expression of IL-1 cytokines is upregulated during S. pneumoniae colonization and is dependent on TLR2. (A and B) Wild-type (black bars) or TLR2-deficient (Tlr2−/− [white bars]) mice were intranasally inoculated with 107 CFU of S. pneumoniae (Spn). At 14 days postcolonization, the upper respiratory tracts were lavaged with RLT RNA lysis buffer. Gene expression relative to PBS (mock)-inoculated mice was measured by quantitative RT-PCR for Il1a (A) and Il1b (B). Results are from at least 2 independent experiments (n > 10 mice). Error bars represent ± SEM. Significance was determined by the Mann-Whitney U test. *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001. ns, not significant.