Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 23 pp 11391—11415

Melatonin protects blood-brain barrier integrity and permeability by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 via the NOTCH3/NF-κB pathway

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Figure 7. Melatonin inhibited NOTCH3 and p65 gene expression in different groups. Pericytes in the Transwell were pretreated with IL-1β (10 ng/mL) for 24 h in serum-free medium with or without pretreatment with DAPT (10 μmol/L), PDTC (25 μmol/L l) and WB-3CT (20 μmol/L), and in combination with melatonin (MEL, 10 μmol/L) for 30 min. (AC) NOTCH3 mRNA levels were quantified in IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + DAPT/PDTC/SB-3CT, and IL-1β + DAPT/PDTC/SB-3CT + MEL groups compared with the control group. qRT-PCR data were normalized to GAPDH expression. (DF) p65 mRNA levels were quantified in IL-1β-treated, IL-1β + DAPT/PDTC/SB-3CT, and IL-1β + DAPT/PDTC/SB-3CT + MEL groups compared with the control group. Results are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3. *p < 0.01 compared with the control; #p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β-treated group; ##p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + DAPT group; $p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + PDTC group; &p < 0.01 compared with the IL-1β + SB-3CT group.