Downregulation of iNOS, IL-1β, and P2X7 Expression in Mast Cells via Activation of PAR4 Contributes to the Inhibition of Visceral Hyperalgesia in Rats

Figure 3

Effects of PAR4-AP on the expressions of tryptase, iNOS, P2X7, and IL-1β in the colons of visceral hyperalgesia rats. (a) Graph showing the numbers of tryptase- (AA1-) positive MCs in the colonic mucosae of the visceral hyperalgesia rats that were treated with PAR4-AP or control peptide (). HPF: high-power field. NS: no statistical significance. (b) The tryptase, iNOS, P2X7, and IL-1β protein levels were assessed by Western blotting. The mean optic densities of the protein were calculated by normalizing to GADPH. (c) The relative levels of tryptase, iNOS, P2X7, and IL-1β mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results were calculated by normalizing to β-actin in the same sample with the ΔCt method. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM (), versus controls; versus the control peptide group.

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