brasiliensis, sets of mice from each study group were sacrificed CYC202 at different times. After total RNA extraction from the NI-MG, ISSI-MG, CI-MG, and NbI-MG foot tissue samples, RT-PCR was performed to amplify fragments of the mRNA corresponding to the receptors, using the mRNA for β-actin as a control. All photographs were processed digitally to enhance their quality. In Fig. 1, the band intensities of the amplified fragments are shown. The intensity of the NI-MG band was considered to be the constitutive basal level for each receptor (T0). The intensity of the bands relative to that of β-actin was constant for all tested tissues at all different

times. The density of the band corresponding to the expression of TLR2 was more intense than that of the baseline band after 2 h. The maximum intensity was observed at 4 h, after which a slight decrease was observed; it then remained constant for the subsequent time points. The density of the band corresponding to the expression of

TLR4 remained similar to the baseline level after selleck chemicals 2 and 4 h, but after 8 h, it showed decreasing intensity for the rest of the study. Figure 2 shows the clinical features of three representative times in the evolution of experimental actinomycetoma. A few minutes after inoculation with N. brasiliensis, a slight subcutaneous swelling was observed in the right foot pad (Fig. 2a, arrow). At 20 days PI, a large area of induration with notable erythema

had developed (Fig. 2b). At 6 months PI, numerous abscesses were observed under the skin and some sinus tracts extended to the surface, resulting in a necrotic area (Fig. 2c, arrow). In Fig. 3, the analysis of the densitometry values obtained for the intensity of the TLR2 and TLR4 bands in the three mouse groups is shown. Figure 3a shows that a significant increase in TLR2 expression was observed in the NbI-MG with respect to the baseline value (33.87±5.92 ng) at all assessed times, with the peak of expression at 4 h PI (73.84±11.82 ng). In the ISSI-MG (Fig. 3b), TLR2 expression decreased G protein-coupled receptor kinase significantly at 2 h PI and returned to the baseline level after 4 h. In the CI-MG (Fig. 3c), the expression of TLR2 decreased significantly at 2, 4, and 8 h PI relative to healthy individuals; at subsequent times, the values showed a tendency to increase towards the baseline level. TLR4 showed high constitutive expression (93.49±20.7 ng). In the NbI-MG (Fig. 3d), the expression of this receptor showed a gradual decrease PI, with the lowest value occurring at 50 days PI (20.59±18.3 ng). A significant difference from the baseline levels was found at all times after 8 h PI. In the ISSI-MG (Fig. 3e), a nonsignificant decrease was observed 2 h PI, after which the values showed a tendency to return to the baseline level. In the CI-MG (Fig. 3f), TLR4 expression showed a pattern similar to that of TLR2 expression.