Fig. 8

TNF-α increased the permeability of control PIECs and Occludin gene- silencing PIECs. a PIECs were treated with or without rhTNF-α (20 ng/ml) for 48 h. The permeability of a treated cell monolayer was assessed with transendothelial flux of FITC-Dextran. b-c PIECs were infected with control lentivirus or lentivirus expressing Zo 1- (b), or Claudin 2- (c) specific siRNA. The permeability of an infected cell monolayer was assessed by transendothelial flux of FITC-Dextran. d PIECs were infected with control lentivirus or lentivirus expressing Occludin-specific siRNA, and then treated with or without rhTNF-α (20 ng/ml) for 48 h. The permeability of an infected cell monolayer was assessed by transendothelial flux of FITC-Dextran. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments (mean ± SEM). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 by Student’s t test