Fig. 7

Neutrophil elastase inhibition stabilizes vascular endothelium after spinal cord injury (SCI). Samples from sham or injured untreated (Injury) or after sivelestat treatment were prepared 7 or 14 or 28 day after injury as described in the Methods section. Total RNA from sham, vehicle (injury) - or sivelestat-treated samples were prepared 7 and 14 day after injury as described in the Methods section. RT-PCR results showing relative expression levels of Transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1; a and b (i)], Platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF; a and b (ii)], Neuropilin-1 [a and B (iii)], and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule [PECAM; a and b (iv)] [n = 2–3/group (sham = 2, injury = 3 and sivelestat = 3) performed in triplicates]. Representative section of neural/glial antigen [NG-2 (c); green], alpha-smooth muscle actin [α- SMA(c) red]; Von Willebrand factor [vWF (d) orange] after SCI. Bar charts show the percentage of NG2 or α-SMA positive area per randomly selected field (3 fields/slide, n = 3/group) (c). 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 < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 vs. sham group. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. Injury group