Adrenomedullin and β₂-integrin (CD11a, CD11b, and CD18) mRNA expression in patients with sepsis compared to healthy volunteers. Specific mRNA expression was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using the Δct method, and results are depicted as n-fold induction (2^ΔΔct, mean ± SEM). A, N-fold change in adrenomedullin mRNA expression in patients with sepsis compared to healthy volunteers: In patients with sepsis, adrenomedullin mRNA expression was decreased by 85% compared to that in healthy controls. * P = 0.0001. B, N-fold change in CD11a mRNA expression in patients with sepsis compared to that in healthy volunteers. In patients with sepsis, CD11a mRNA expression was decreased by 86% compared to that in healthy controls. * P = 0.0001. C, N-fold change in CD11b mRNA expression in patients with sepsis compared to that in healthy volunteers. In patients with sepsis, CD11b mRNA expression was decreased by 85% compared to that in healthy controls. * P = 0.0001. D, N-fold change in CD18 mRNA expression in patients with sepsis compared to that in healthy volunteers. mRNA expression of the common β₂-integrin subunit CD18 was 1.6-fold increased in patients with sepsis compared to that in controls. mRNA = messenger ribonucleic acid. * P = 0.004.