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

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Figure 8. Melatonin pretreatment affects NOTCH3 and p65 protein expression and nuclear translocation of p65 in the different groups. (A, D) NOTCH3 protein expression was analyzed by western blot and quantified by densitometric analysis for IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + DAPT and IL-1β + DAPT + MEL groups compared with the control group; (B, E) NOTCH3 protein expression was analyzed by western blot and quantified by densitometry analysis in IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + PDTC, IL-1β + PDTC + MEL groups compared with the control group; (C, F) NOTCH3 protein expression was analyzed by western blot and quantified by densitometry analysis in IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + SB-3CT, and IL-1β + SB-3CT + MEL groups compared with the control group. (G, I) NICD protein expression was analyzed by western blot and quantified by densitometry analysis in IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + DAPT, IL-1β + DAPT + MEL, IL-1β + PDTC, IL-1β + PDTC + MEL, IL-1β + SB-3CT, and IL-1β + SB-3CT + MEL groups compared with the control group. (H, J) p65 protein was analyzed by western blot and quantified by densitometry analysis in these eight groups. 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.