Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 23 pp 11391—11415
Melatonin protects blood-brain barrier integrity and permeability by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 via the NOTCH3/NF-κB pathway
Figure 6. Melatonin pretreatment reduces the effect of MMP-9 on the expression of VE-cadherin, occludin, claudin-5, and ZO-1 in the BBB. (A) VE-cadherin, occludin, claudin-5 and ZO-1 protein levels were measured using western blot analysis. (B–C) VE-cadherin, occludin, claudin-5 and ZO-1 protein levels were quantified by densitometry analysis. Results are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3. *p < 0.01 compared with the control; #p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β-treated group, respectively; ##p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + DAPT group; $p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + PDTC group; &p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + SB-3CT group.