Fig. 5.

Aedes aegypti cecropins protected mice from LPS-induced endotoxin shock. C57BL/6 mice were i.p. injected with 10 mg/kg LPS (E. coli 0111:B4) and then treated with AeaeCec peptides (10 mg/kg), AeaeCec1-5 mixture (2 mg/kg each) or vehicle (PBS) for 4 h. a-c Expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the lungs (a), serum (b) and peritoneal lavage (c) were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA assay. d Histopathological changes in the lungs. The tissue samples were stained with H&E. The arrows showed inflammatory infiltration. e The ratio of wet weight to dry weight of the lungs was evaluated. Data are presented as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01