Figure 1

Serum hepcidin is elevated in mice injected with M. arthritidis. A. Eighteen female mice (10 weeks) C3H/HeJ and 18 female mice (10 weeks) C3H/HeSnJ mice were injected with M. arthritidis, an organism that causes arthritis and a toxic shock like syndrome in susceptible mice. Arthritis severity was scored on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 after injection. B. Three mice were sacrificed on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 after injection and serum hepcidin levels were analyzed. Mean values are reported as well as standard error bars. Serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher 21 days after infection in the C3H/HeJ mice than in the C3H/HeSnJ mice. C. Hepcidin transcripts were measured from the livers and spleens of each mouse at each time point described in B.