Fig. 4

Effect of C. perfringens challenge and dietary EA levels on relative mRNA expression of inflammation-related pathway and cytokine genes in jejunal mucosa of broilers at d 42. (A, B, C and D) The relative mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). (E, F and G) The relative mRNA expressions of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). (H and I) The relative mRNA expression of janus kinase 3 (JAK3) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (STAT6). Unchallenged, birds without C. perfringens infection; challenged, birds with C. perfringens infection. Values are means (n = 6) with their standard errors represented by vertical bars. ^{a, b} Values with unlike letters were significantly different (P < 0.05). *^, **^, *** Significant main effect (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001) of C. perfringens challenge