Bacterial dissemination and plasma IL-6 levels are significantly increased in HRG-deficient animals early during S pyogenes infection. Wild-type (●) or HRG-deficient animals (○) were infected with S pyogenes AP1 (1 × 107 CFU) by subcutaneous injection. (A) Two days after infection, surviving animals were killed, and the bacterial load in the spleen, kidney, and blood was determined. Data are expressed as CFU/mL of organ from each animal with lines drawn at the median for each group (n = 8). (B-C) IL-6 and IL-10 levels were determined in plasma samples from wild-type (gray bars) or HRG-deficient animals (white bars) taken one and 2 days after infection. Animals alive at these time points were included from both groups. Data are mean ± SEM; n = 7.
