Fig. 5

Neutrophil elastase inhibition prevented the spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced disruption of tight junction protein (ZO-1 and Occludin) in a rat model. Samples from sham, injured untreated, and injured sivelestat-treated animals were prepared DPI-1 as described in the Methods section. a Representative section of zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and occludin immunofluorescence, at DPI-1[3 fields/slide, n = 2–3/group (sham = 2, injury = 3 and sivelestat = 3)]. b Western blots of ZO-1, cleaved PARP, and LC3B expression at 1 day after injury. Actin was used as internal controls for western blot. Total RNA and spinal extracts from sham or injured untreated (Injury) or after sivelestat treatment were prepared DPI-1 as described in the Methods section. RT-PCR results of occludin and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 expression 1 day after injury [n = 2–3/group (sham = 2, injury = 3 and sivelestat = 3) performed in triplicates] (c and d). GAPDH was used as internal controls for real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Data represent means ± S.E.M. ^#p < 0.05, ^###p < 0.001 vs. sham group. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. Injury group