Figure 3

hIL-1βP-driven luciferase expression is induced in multiple tissues of IL-1β-luc transgenic mice after LPS treatment. (A) Female cHS4I-hIL-1βP-Luc mice (n = 3) were treated with LPS (3 mg/kg). At 5 h after LPS injection, mice were sacrificed and selected organs were rapidly harvested and homogenized for luciferase activity measurement with a luminometer. Saline-treated mice were used as controls. (B) Fold induction of the luciferase expression in the selected organs. Degree of change in gene expression is based on the expression level of the saline-treated mice. All values were expressed as mean ± SE. (C) Quantification-RT-PCR analysis for IL-1β gene expression in female mice. The mRNA levels of IL-1β gene expression in the selected organs of LPS-treated mice were quantified using real-time RT-PCR with Evagreen detection at 5 h after treatment. Degree of change in gene expression is based on the expression level of the saline-treated mice. All values were expressed as mean ± SE (n = 3/group). (D) Western blot for the presence of pro-IL-1β protein in the spleen, thymus and lung at 5 h following treatment with saline or LPS.