Figure 2

IL-6 and IL-6R expression is modified in muscle from animal models of MG. mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-6R in muscles of EAMG and control CFA-immunized rats (A and B) and mice (C and D). mRNA expression levels of IL-6 (A and C) and IL-6R (B and D) were determined by Q-RT-PCR. In IL-6 transcript levels for mice, the EAMG group was separated in EAMG score with a zero-to-moderate clinical score (<6) and EAMG with a high score (>7). The clinical weakness was evaluated by weight loss, reduced grip strength, and reduced ability to hang on an inverted grid. β-Actin for rats and Rpl32 for mice were used as an inner control for normalization of IL-6 and IL-6R. The groups were compared using t-tests for significance. ANOVA was used for mice IL-6 transcripts levels (C, p = 0.0315). Post-test comparisons of groups were not individually significant, but a trend could be observed (Controls versus EAMG (0–6) p = 0.0516; EAMG (0–6) versus EAMG (7–9) p = 0.0792) ***p < 0.001; **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05.