Figure 4.

mRNA levels of IRF5 and IRF5-mediated inflammatory factors in the bronchial lavage cells of CAP patients. Bronchial lavage cells were lysed to isolate total RNA for amplifying the mRNA of IRF5, IFN-α, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, and TNF-α by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). CO: controls. The Mann-Whitney U test (CO vs. CAP, Mild vs. Severe) was used for statistical analysis. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 23 for controls, n=20 for total CAP patients, n=14 for mild CAP patients, and n=6 for severe CAP patients). P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.