Dose-Dependent Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of an ανβ3 Integrin-Binding Peptide

Figure 10

C16 treatment reduced the apoptotic neural cells in spinal cord and brain. Caspase-3 immunostaining, counterstained with hematoxylin; bar = 100 μm. ((a), (c), (e), (g), (i), and (k) coronal sections of motor cortex; (b), (d), (f), (h), (j), and (l) traverse section through the lumbar spinal cord). At week 2 post-immunization, vehicle control rats ((a) large numbers of caspase-3 labeled apoptotic neural cells appeared in the hindlimb area of motor cortex) and ((b) plenty of caspase-3 labeled apoptotic neural cells appeared in the anterior horn of spinal cord) 2 mg/per day C16 treated EAE rats ((c), (d)). C16 late treated EAE rats ((e), (f)). At week 8 post-immunization, vehicle control rats ((g), (h)), 2 mg/per day C16 treated EAE rats ((i), (j)), and C16 late treated EAE rats ((k), (l)). (m) Medium to high-dose C16 treatment reduced the number of caspase-3⁺ apoptotic neural cells. ^a𝑃<0.05 versus normal rats; ^b𝑃<0.05 versus vehicle control rats at week 2 postimmunization group; ^f𝑃<0.05 versus vehicle control rats at week 8 after immunization. ^g𝑃<0.05 versus 0.5 mg/per day C16 treated EAE rats at week 8 after immunization. (n) Late treated C16 treatment also decreased caspase-3⁺ apoptotic neural cells to a certain extent. ^a𝑃<0.05 versus normal rats; ^b𝑃<0.05 versus vehicle control rats at week 2 postimmunization group; ^c𝑃<0.05 versus C16 treated EAE rats at week 2 postimmunization group; ^d𝑃<0.05 versus vehicle control rats at week 8 after immunization.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)

(m)

(n)