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. 2016 Mar 17;11(3):e0151702. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151702

Fig 5. CD40L is required for EcoHIV-induced BBB permeability.

Fig 5

(A) Wild-type (WT) or CD40L deficient (CD40L KO) C57BL/6J mice (both groups n = 3 each) were infected with EcoHIV, while control mice were left uninfected, for 14 days and sodium fluorescein (NaF) exclusion assay was performed to assess BBB permeability. The data reveals that the EcoHIV-induced increase in BBB permeability is dependent on normal expression of CD40L. The values are presented as fold increase in the ratio of brain versus plasma concentrations of NaF. (B) qRT-PCR analysis of claudin-5 expression in brain tissues harvested from WT and CD40L KO mice showed a reduction of claudin-5 transcripts in WT mice but not in the CD40L KO counterparts (both groups n = 3). (C) Complete blood counts revealed a reduction in platelet counts two wpi in both WT and CD40L animals (both groups n = 3). (D) Increased levels of PF4 were detected in the plasma of infected mice compared to their uninfected controls, suggesting a higher degree of platelet activation (WT and CD40L KO both n = 3).