Fig. 3.

TNF-α-induced monolayer hyperpermeability was prevented by pUR4. After being grown to confluence on Transwell inserts, bEND.3 cells were preincubated with 1000 nM scrambled peptide, 1000 nM pUR4, or PBS for 16 h and then underwent treatment with TNF-α (20 ng/mL) or PBS control for 24 h. a TEER assay was performed 24 h after TNF-α or PBS treatment to determine bEND.3 monolayer integrity (n = 3 for each experimental group). Data are presented as means ± standard deviations. **P < 0.01 and ****P < 0.0001, two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test and Sidak’s multiple comparison test. b and c 40-kDa FITC–dextran (final concentration = 1 mg/mL; b) and sodium fluorescein (final concentration = 10 ng/mL; c) were loaded into the upper chamber for 1 h after 24-h treatment with TNF-α or PBS control, and the FI of the medium in the lower chamber was measured. Permeability was determined through FI_60min/FI_0min and normalized to the PBS control (n = 3). Data are presented as means ± standard deviations. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001, two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test and Sidak’s multiple comparison test