Figure 2.

mRNA expression in WT and 5-HT₄-TG mice, treated either with LPS or NaCl. (A) The mRNA coding for the overexpressed human 5-HT₄-receptor was greatly downregulated in hearts of TG after LPS treatment. Ordinate: mRNA expression normalized to GAPDH expression. Three mice were studied in each genotype. * p < 0.05 vs. NaCl. (B) LPS-induced heart failure was accompanied by increased mRNA expression of cytokines like interleukin 1 β and 6 (IL-1 β, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in both 5-HT₄-TG and WT. The mRNA of the LPS-binding protein (LBP) and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was increased in 5-HT₄-TG, but not in WT. Whereas the mRNA of NFκB was unchanged, the mRNA of IκBα was to a similar extent increased by LPS in WT and 5-HT₄-TG. Three mice were studied in each group, and injection of NaCl served as control. WT = wild-type mice, 5-HT₄-TG = 5-HT₄-transgenic mice. Data shown are means ± SEM. * p < 0.05 vs. NaCl; ^# p < 0.05 vs. WT.