Figure 6.

Confirmation of the expression levels of six of the highly differentially expressed genes highlighted in Table 2 by real-time RT-PCR TaqMan^® analysis. The graphs compare the gene expression profiles for IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, GRO1, CD14 and CD3 obtained using two different methods: Affymetrix Rat Genome RAE230A GeneChip^® (filled squares) and real-time RT-PCR TaqMan^® analysis (open squares). Data are expressed as the mean of signal intensity or the mean of copy no./50 ng cDNA normalized against the housekeeping gene ubiquitin, for all of the samples from the same group (four to five). The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) for each comparison is given. PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; SCW, streptococcal cell wall.