In order to see if this led to functional changes in neuroinflammation, RT-PCR was performed in the cortex of AOM-treated mice pretreated with C021 and INCB, which determined that IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression were elevated in AOM-treated mice, effects that were attenuated in mice pretreated with INCB or C021 (Figure 5B,C). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and infectious otitis media.