Figure 8.

Sema3A expression by leptomeningeal fibroblasts in culture is regulated by the transcription factor STAT3. The graph shows relative Sema3A levels expressed by spinal leptomeningeal fibroblasts treated with saline, cucurbitacin I (Cucurb), an inhibitor of STAT3 signalling and combined cucurbitacin I + decorin (Dec). Data is represented as relative quantitation of Sema3A expression compared with saline-treated control samples that were given a reference value of 1. Error bars = standard deviations. Analysis of leptomeningeal fibroblasts treated with cucurbitacin I alone revealed a robust 63.0% (±7.0) reduction in Sema3A expression compared with saline-treated control samples. Co-treatment of fibroblasts with decorin and cucurbitacin I results in a synergistic 90% (±1.0) reduction in the expression of Sema3A compared with that observed for saline-treated control leptomeningeal fibroblasts.