Figure 4.

Telmisartan (TS) inhibits Escherichia coli–induced protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) phosphorylation and thereby endothelial permeability in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). A, HBMECs grown in 6-well plates were treated with TS or valsartan (VS) with or without E. coli infection as mentioned earlier, and PKC phosphorylation was analyzed using a nonradioactive PepTag assay. B, Total phospho–PKC-α was determined by flow cytometry in HBMECs treated with TS with or without E. coli infection. C, Supernatants of HBMECs pretreated with or without TS followed by infection with E. coli were analyzed for total nitrite production, using the Greiss method. D, HBMECs cultured in 3-µm transwell culture inserts were pretreated with TS and infected with E. coli for various periods, and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured using a Millicell apparatus. Inhibition of the decrease in TEER values in TS-treated and infected HBMECs was statistically significant, compared with E. coli–infected cells (*P < .02). All experiments were performed at least 3 times in triplicate.