FIGURE 4.

Effect of rAPN on the expression of lung mRNA and protein levels for inflammatory cytokines in response to aspiration of LPS, in vivo. PND4 rat pups were treated with rAPN (2 mg/kg) or saline by IP injections and, after 4 hr, LPS (5 mg/kg) or saline was administered to the posterior pharynx (intrapharyngeal, IPh). After 24 hr, mRNA (left panel) or protein levels (right panel) were measured in lung homogenates for IL‐6 (a and b), TNF‐α (c and d), IL‐1β (e and f), and IL‐10 (g and h) (n = 4 per group). Change in relative mRNA expression was calculated by 2ΔCt method normalized to β‐actin mRNA expression. Immunoblots were normalized to β‐actin protein expression. Bars represent mean ± SEM.*p < .05 by one‐way ANOVA followed by post hoc analyses using Holm–Sidak test compared to certain other groups. # represents p < .05 compared to all other groups. ¥ represents p < .05 compared to saline + LPS group. ‡ represents p < .05 compared to saline and saline + LPS groups