FIGURE 9.

Overexpression of PAK4 in the spinal cord delays disease onset and increases the lifespan of hSOD1^G93A mice. A, Expression of cherry in the spinal cord of hSOD1^G93A mice injected with LV‐cherry (red) was examined using immunofluorescence. Scale bar = 50 μm. B, The protein expression levels of PAK4 were increased in spinal cord tissues of hSOD1^G93A mice injected with LV‐PAK4 compared with those of the hSOD1^G93A mice injected with LV‐cherry. C, The levels of PAK4 mRNA in the spinal cords of hSOD1^G93A mice injected with LV‐PAK4/LV‐cherry were analysed by qRT‐PCR. D‐F, LV‐PAK4 intraspinal injection into p60 hSOD1^G93A mice significantly postponed median disease onset (D) compared with LV‐cherry (LV‐PAK4:124 d; LV‐cherry:108 d; P < .01 ) and extended median survival (E) (LV‐PAK4: 157 d; LV‐cherry: 136 d; P < .01) and disease progression (F) (LV‐cherry: 28 d; LV‐PAK4: 35 d; P < .05). Data represent means ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t‐test or Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis. *P < .05, **P < .01, ***P < .001