Fig. 4.

Intrathecal treatment with a shRNA against P2Y₁₂ receptor decreases the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β protein in the DRG of gp120+ddC-treated rats. a Expression of the TNF-α protein (normalized to each β-actin internal control) in the gp120+ddC group was higher compared to sham group (p < 0.01). No difference was found between the sham group and the control group (p > 0.05). In gp120+ddC rats treated with P2Y₁₂ receptor shRNA, TNF-α protein expression was lower compared to gp120+ddC group (p < 0.01). No difference was found between the gp120+ddC+NC group and the gp120+ddC group (p > 0.05). Bar graphs show the ratio of TNF-α protein level to β-actin level in each group. Data are displayed as the means ± SE (n = 9 per group). **p < 0.01 compared to the control group; ##p < 0.01 compared to the gp120+ddC-treated group. b Expression of the IL-1β protein (normalized to each β-actin internal control) in the gp120+ddC group was higher than in the sham group (p < 0.01). No difference was found between the sham group and the control group (p > 0.05). In gp120+ddC rats treated with P2Y₁₂ receptor shRNA, expression levels of the IL-1β protein were lower than in the gp120+ddC group that did not receive P2Y₁₂ receptor shRNA (p < 0.01). No difference was found between the gp120+ddC+NC group and the gp120+ddC group (p > 0.05). Bar graphs show the ratio of IL-1β protein to β-actin in each group. The data are displayed as the means ± SE (n = 8 per group). **p < 0.01 compared to the control group; ##p < 0.01 compared to the gp120+ddC-treated group