Table 1. Sequences of the primer pairs used in this study.

Gene symbol	Forward primer 5'-3'	Reverse primer 5'-3'
IL-6	GGCGTCCGAAGTATGAGTCC	TGCAACTTCCAAGCTTCGTC
GAPDH	GCTCATTTGCAGGGGGGAG	GTTGGTGGTGCAGGAGGCA

GAPDH was used to normalize IL-6 expression. IL-6, interleukin 6; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.