FIG 4.

TLR7 deficiency downregulates the activation of inflammation related signaling pathways after RABV infection. TLR7^−/− and WT mice were i.c. inoculated with RABV CVS-B2c strain (100 FFU/mouse), and brains were harvested and homogenized at 6 dpi. The total RNA of the brains was isolated for RNA-seq analysis. (A) Volcano plot showing quantity of differential regulated transcripts between TLR7^−/− and WT mice. (B) Top eight selected upregulated expressed genes in infected WT brains compared to those in TLR7^−/− brains were measured by qPCR (naive mice, n = 3; infected mice, n = 7). (C and D) Upregulated genes in infected WT brains compared to those in TLR7^−/− brains were subjected to GO and KEGG pathway analysis. Inflammation-related pathways are highlighted with arrows. (E) Transcription levels of indicated inflammatory cytokines are analyzed by qPCR (naive mice, n = 3; infected mice, n = 7). (F) Expression and phosphorylation of the key molecules in inflammation related signaling pathways were confirmed by Western blotting. Error bars represent the SEM. Statistical differences between TLR7^−/− and WT mice were determined using Student t test and are denoted as follows: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.