Figure 8. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the cornea after alkali burn injury. Quantification of the messenger ribonucleic acid expression levels of (A) interleukin-1β, (B) interleukin-6, (C) tumor necrosis factor-α, (D) interleukin-8 (CXCL8), (E) monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, (F) transforming growth factor-β1, and (G) vascular endothelial growth factor-A. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels were measured with real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), and were normalized to the level of β-actin. A significant difference was observed between the vehicle and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) groups at 6 h (A, B, D–F) and on day 1 (A, C, D, G) after injury. The “Normal” (N) in A to G indicates the mRNA values from uninjured normal corneas. The results are presented as the means±standard errors. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, compared with the vehicle group.