Effects of anxiety phenotype on chemokine and cytokine gene expression in UV-exposed skin.

<p>Gene expression in dorsal skin was measured by quantitative PCR at weeks 17 and 31 in low- (white bars) and high- (black bars) anxiety mice. mRNA levels of chemokines and cytokines known to be protective (CTACK, IL-12, and IFN-γ) or harmful (IL-4 and IL-10) in the context of SCC were quantified. Levels of mRNA expression normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA are shown. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Outcomes were optimally Box-Cox transformed prior to analysis. For each outcome, means were compared between groups using a two-sample <i>t</i>-test with Satterthwaite adjustment for unequal variances. Statistical trends (* <i>p</i> < 0.09) and significant differences (** <i>p</i> < 0.05) are indicated, and corresponding effect sizes are mentioned in the text. For all comparisons where the <i>t</i>-test showed a statistical trend, regression analysis showed statistical significance, the only exception being week 17 IFN-γ gene expression.