Fig. 4

Inflammatory mediators in lumbar spinal cord. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was highly increased in lean 17 month-mice (n = 3/group, ^xx p < 0.01, lean 3 vs. lean 17). IL-6 mRNA expression was increased in DIO 6 mice (n = 3/group, *p < 0.05, lean 6 vs. DIO 6). IL-1β was not affected by aging nor by obesity (n = 3/group, p > 0.05). The expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10 and TGF-β were not significantly altered