Figure 6

Regulation of ZO1 expression in diabetic retinas by P60 and P78. (A) The confocal images indicate that ZO1 expression is decreased in the retinal vasculature (arrowheads) in diabetic conditions (AT) compared with the ND retinas (ND). Increased ZO1 expression was seen in the vasculature (arrows) of the diabetic retinas after treatment with a combination of the PEDF derivatives (scale bar = 50 µmol/L) (n = 6). Western blot analysis (B) and densitometry measurements (C, D) confirm a decrease in two ZO1 isoforms (220 and 214 kDa) in the diabetic groups and an increase in their expression after treatment with P60 or P78. (E) PCR analysis provides supporting evidence that both derivatives increased ZO1 mRNA expression. Differences between P60, P78 and the combination treatment were statistically insignificant (n = 4). p values are indicated in the histograms where statistical significances were observed among the treatment groups. Values are means ± SD.