RNA was isolated with RNeasy kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) and reverse transcribed to cDNA with Super-Script III reverse transcriptase (QIAGEN). The cDNA was used as template for real time (RT)-PCR using SYBER green PCR Master Mix with primers for ICAM-1, CCL2, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL1, NOS2, and P2X7.9 (link) Gene expression was assessed using a StepOne Real Time PCR system (ABI 7900 Sequence Detection System). The cDNA samples were run in triplicate. Samples were normalized according to the content of 18S rRNA.