Effect of LCZ on the expression of the tight junction proteins of BMECs
The expression of tight junction proteins of BMECs, such as claudin-1, claudin-4, occluding, and zonula occludins-1 (ZO-1), were significantly down-regulated by E. coli compared with other groups (Figure 3). Meanwhile, the expression of the four proteins was significantly up-regulated in the LCZ + E. coli group relative to the E. coli group. The expression of ZO-1 in the LCZ group was significantly higher than the expression of ZO-1 observed in the Control group; no significant differences were detected in the expression levels of the other three proteins compared with the Control group.