Figure 4

Effect of ACE2 deficiency on oxidative stress and inflammation. (a) NADPH oxidase p22^phox, p40^phox, p47^phox, P67^phox, and gp91^phox subunit mRNA was detected using real-time RT-PCR as described in Materials and methods. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. (n=8 for each group). *P<0.05 versus WT mice. (b) Superoxide anion was detected using dihydroethidium as described in Materials and methods. Representative photos are shown in the upper panel, and the lower panel shows quantitative analysis. The value in each mouse was determined from the average of eight areas of the hippocampus. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. (n=18–20 for each group). (c) The protein level of SOD3 was determined by western blotting as described in Materials and methods. Representative blots are shown in the upper panel, and the lower panel shows quantitative analysis. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. (n=9). (d) TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNAs were detected using real-time RT-PCR as described in Materials and methods. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. (n=8 for each group). ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; NADPH, nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; SOD3, superoxide dismutase 3; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; WT, wild type.