Figure 4. The effect of α-MSH treatment on the permeability of cytokine treated triple co-culture model of the BBB.

Brain endothelial cells co-cultured with pericytes and astrocytes on culture inserts were treated with cytokines (10 ng/ml TNF-α and 10 ng/ml IL-1β) without or with α-MSH (1 or 10 pM) for 1 h. Then, permeability was measured for 4 kDa FITC-dextran and albumin. Control group received culture medium. Mean ± SEM, n = 7–17, ***P < 0.001. Asterisks indicate that groups were compared to the control group. Pound signs indicate that groups were compared to the cytokine-treated group. C, control group; CK, cytokine treated group; ns, no significant difference between the two groups.