Figure 4. 3-DZNeP inhibits inflammation and angiogenesis as well as lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration in the model of PDF-induced peritoneal fibrosis.

(A, B) Peritoneum tissue lysates were subjected to immunoblot analysis with antibodies against p-STAT3, STAT3, p-NF-κB, NF-κB, or GAPDH. These proteins were quantified by densitometry. (C) p-STAT3 and p-NF-κB levels were normalized with their total protein levels. Peritoneal lysates were subjected to the ELISA as described under Materials and Methods. (D) The expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and MCP-1 are indicated in each group. (E) Photomicrographs (200X) illustrate CD3 staining of the peritoneal tissues from sham-operated or 4.25% PDF-treated mice with/without 3-DZNeP administration. The count of CD3-positive cells was calculated from ten random fields of six mice peritoneal samples. (F) Photomicrographs (200X) illustrate CD68 staining of the peritoneal tissues. The count of CD68-positive cells was calculated from ten random fields of six mice peritoneal samples. (G) Photomicrographs (200X) illustrate VEGF staining of the peritoneal tissues. The count of VEGF-positive cells was calculated from ten random fields of six mice peritoneal samples. (H) Photomicrographs (200X) illustrate CD31 staining of the peritoneal tissues. The count of CD31-positive vessels was calculated from ten random fields of six mice peritoneal samples. Data are represented as the mean ± S.E.M (n = 6). Means with different superscript letters are significantly different from one another (P< 0.05). All scale bars = 20 μm.