QRT-PCR was used to confirm and expand upon the results of the microarray screening by tracking the time course changes of the selected cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) as well as the cellular adhesion molecule (E-selectin) mRNA levels following PBBI (Figure 3; selected on the basis of our earlier findings using an ischemic brain injury model[27]). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and brain injury.