Macrophage mRNA levels for various cytokines and mediators relevant to CNV formation following acute or chronic MCMV infection.

Populations of splenic macrophages collected from groups of mice with acute MCMV infection (6 days postinfection) and chronic MCMV infection (12 weeks postinfection) were compared with splenic macrophages collected from groups of mice inoculated with UV-inactivated MCMV for 6 days or 12 weeks duration for mRNA levels to various pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines and mediators associated with neovascular AMD. These included tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and platelet-derived growth factor-beta (PDGF-β). Baseline transcript levels for splenic macrophages collected from groups of mice inoculated with UV-inactivated mice for 6 days or 12 weeks was were set at 100%. Asterisks indicate statistical significance when compared with parallel control groups.