Systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in <i>A</i>. <i>butzleri</i> infected gnotobiotic IL-10^-/- mice.

<p>Gnotobiotic IL-10^−/− mice were generated by antibiotic treatment and orally infected either with <i>A</i>. <i>butzleri</i> strain CCUG 30485 (circles) or strain C1 (squares). Uninfected gnotobiotic IL-10^−/− mice served as negative controls (black diamonds). Concentrations of <b>(A)</b> IFN-γ, <b>(B)</b> IL-12p70, <b>(C)</b> TNF and <b>(D)</b> IL-6 were determined in serum samples at day 6 p.i. (filled symbols) and day 16 p.i. (open symbols). Numbers of analyzed animals are given in parentheses. Medians (black bars) and significance levels as determined by the Mann-Whitney U test are indicated. Data were pooled from three independent experiments (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0139402#pone.0139402.s006" target="_blank">S6 Table</a>).