highly significantp < 0.0001
The results showed that compared to the blank group, the relative expressions of IL-6 , IL-8 , and TNF-α gene display a highly significant increase ( p < 0.0001) in PRRSV-infected group; and compared to PRRSV-infected group, the relative expressions of IL-6 , IL-8 , and TNF-α gene show a significantly downward trend ( p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.0001) in 12.5, 50 and 100 μmol·L −1 zinc sulfate treated groups ( Figures 7A – C ) and appeared a dose-effect relationship between the relative expressions of gene and the concentration of zinc sulfate.