RNA extraction was followed by gDNA elimination, and reverse transcription was performed using the QuantiTect Reverse Transcription Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). 1 μg of RNA was transcribed, with incubation during the reverse transcription procedure conducted in Labcycler 48 (SensoQuest GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). The obtained cDNA was then stored at -86°C.