Fig. 9.

Ileal expression of genes coding for MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gnotobiotic IL-10^–/– mice following A. butzleri infection. Gnotobiotic IL-10^–/– mice were generated by antibiotic treatment and perorally infected either with A. butzleri strain CCUG 30485 (circles) or strain C1 (squares). Uninfected mice served as negative control (naive; closed diamonds). A) MMP-2 and B) MMP-9 mRNA levels were determined in ex vivo ileal biopsies taken at days (d) 6 (closed symbols) or 16 (open symbols) postinfection. Medians (black bars), numbers of analyzed animals, and significance levels as determined by the Mann–Whitney U test are indicated (^*p < 0.05; ^**p < 0.01). Data shown were pooled from three independent experiments