Fig. 2.

Loss of NF-κB p50 function and aging synergistically interact to augment serum and brain TNFα in middle-aged mice. NF-κB p50^+/+ and NF-κB p50^−/− mice from three different age groups (1.5–3.0 month old, 8.0–11.0 month old, and 16.0–18.0 month old) were injected with saline or LPS (5 mg/kg, IP) to determine age-related effects of loss of NF-κB p50 function on peripheral and neuro-inflammation at 3 h post-injection. a Circulating TNFα protein was measured by ELISA. Values are reported as mean expression ± SEM. Midbrain TNFα mRNA levels were assessed following b saline or c LPS treatment by quantitative RT-PCR. Values were normalized to GAPDH using the 2^−ΔΔCT method and are reported as mean percent of saline control ± SEM. An asterisk indicates significant difference (P < 0.05) from the 1.5–3.0-month-old group and a dagger indicates a significant difference between mouse strains. n = 3–7