Quantitative analysis of the ICAM-1 mRNA-expression in the retinal tissue by RNase protection assay. Ribonuclease protection assay for ICAM-1 and 18S was performed on 1-week diabetic rat retinae (A). Diabetic animals received either 25 mg/kg of VEGF (n = 13 eyes) TrapA40 or no treatment at all (n = 11). When normalized to 18S, retinal ICAM-1 levels in the eyes of animals pretreated with VEGF TrapA40 were 83.5% lower than in the eyes of animals pretreated with IL-6R Trap control (B) (P < 0.0001). C: Quantitative analysis of the ICAM-1 protein levels in the retinal tissue by an ELISA-based technique. Diabetic animals showed a threefold increase in ICAM-1 protein levels (from 0.35 + 0.035 to 1.007 ± 0.09 pg/mg, P < 0.0001, n = 6), when compared to nondiabetic control animals. The ICAM-1 levels were reduced to the levels of the nondiabetic animals (from 1.007 ± 0.09 to 0.42 ± 0.03 pg/mg, P < 0.0005, n = 8) on treatment with VEGF TrapA40, whereas the ICAM-1 protein levels in the untreated diabetic rats were no different from those that received IL-6 (from 1.007 ± 0.09 to 1.01 ± 0.17, n = 6).