Figure 5

NAC and calpeptin pretreatment reduces PM-induced pulmonary inflammation and ZO-1 loss in murine lung. AJ mice (n = 4) were treated NAC (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) or calpeptin (CALP, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) 1 hr before PM challenge (10 mg/kg, intratracheal aspiration). After 24 hr, (A) protein concentration of BAL fluids was measured, (B) total white blood cell (WBC) in BAL were counted, and (C-D) IL-6 and TNF-α levels in BAL were measured. (E) Protein was extracted from the mouse lungs and analyzed by Western blotting using ZO-1 and β-actin antibodies. Changes in levels of ZO-1 are expressed as fold changes and normalized to β-actin. *p < 0.05 compared to control. **p < 0.05 compared to PM-challenge. (F) BAL cellularity were examined by cytospin slides, and lung tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.