Figure 3 .

IgG reduces MMP-9 expression. (A) Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression was determined by western blot analysis at 24 h after SCI. Three treatment groups were studied including laminectomy only (sham, n = 4), intravenous saline (saline, n = 9), and intravenous IgG (IgG, n = 8). IgG treatment was associated with a significant reduction in MMP-9 level in the injured spinal cord (P = 0.004). Error bars represent SEM. (B) A representative western-blot of MMP-9 is shown. β-actin was used as a loading control.