Figure 6.
Induction of Cx43 expression in alveoli is mediated by pro-inflammatory mediators. Cx43 is immunolocalized in lung alveolar septa of Cx43+/+ mice instilled with LPS for 24 hrs, whether or not neutrophils were depleted by subcutaneous injection of anti-GR1 antibody (A, D, arrows). In contrast, transgenic mice overexpressing the soluble form of the TNF-α receptor 1 (B) or knock-out mice for the TNF-α gene (C), showed discrete or no Cx43 staining in alveoli. The images were representative of 4 mice invalidated for TNF-α and 3 mice treated with anti-GR1. The Cx43 staining is in green. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue); sections were counter-stained with Evans blue (red). Scale bar represents 15 μm.