Fig. 3

Comparison of TNF-α mRNA expression in patients infected with or without the cagA and oipA virulence factors. TNF-α expression was significantly increased in patients infected with cagA-positive in comparison with patients infected with cagA-negative. Also, TNF-α expression was significantly increased in patients infected with oipA-positive in comparison with patients infected with oipA-negative. P < 0 .05 was considered statistically significant by independent-samples t-test (N = number and FC = fold change)