FIG 3.

Kinetic analysis of PGE₂ in cattle infected with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. (a) Serum PGE₂ concentrations in cattle uninfected (n = 16) or naturally infected with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (n = 8) were determined by ELISA. (b) The expression of COX-2 mRNA in PBMCs from cattle experimentally infected with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (n = 7) cultured with J-PPD was assayed by real-time PCR. (c) PBMCs of the uninfected (n = 6) and experimentally infected (n = 7) cattle were incubated with J-PPD. The concentration of PGE₂ in culture supernatants was determined by ELISA in duplicate. Statistical significance was determined by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (a and b) or the Steel-Dwass test (c). N.S., no stimulation.