To determine whether integrin α3β1 regulates the inflammatory response in a macrophage model of infection, we tested the effects of integrin α3-targeting shRNA and antibody blocking of integrin α3β1 on the cellular response to B. burgdorferi. shRNA targeting the integrin α3 chain reduced the IL-6 response to B. burgdorferi by 47% (p = 0.014) (Fig. 9A). Here, IL6 is linked to infection.