Effects of AICAR and metformin on the expression of inflammatory genes in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages. qRT-PCR analyses of proinflammatory IL-1beta, TNF alpha, iNOS, and antiinflammatory IL-10 and arginase 1 in LPS- and IL-4-stimulated BMMs with and without treatment with AICAR [500 µM] or metformin [500 µM], or AICAR in combination with its activation inhibitor ABT702, respectively. Signals for specific genes were normalized with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The relative quantitative level of samples was determined by standard 2-ddC calculations and expressed as fold-change compared to a reference control sample. (n = 3–4/treatment), * p < 0.05, ** p< 0.01, *** p< 0.001 statistically significant difference in comparison with LPS or IL-4-treated controls.