Fig. 4

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) regulated brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) permeability after Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) infection. a Representative images of BMECs ultrastructure after P. gingivalis infection for 24 h. I: The status of P. gingivalis inside BMECs was observed by TEM. II: Caveolae-like structures of 50–100 nm were observed around the cell membrane of BMECs infected with P. gingivalis. Red arrows indicate intact P. gingivalis, and blue arrows indicate the caveolae-like structures. Scale bar, 500 nm. b Western blot and quantification (I and II) of the Cav-1 protein expression were evaluated in BMECs after P. gingivalis infection for 24 h. c RT-qPCR showed that the quantity of P. gingivalis ([MOI] 100) internalized into BMECs decreased after knockdown Cav-1. d Flow cytometry and quantification (I and II) showed that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-positive cells decreased after Cav-1 knockdown (si-Cav-1: knockdown with Cav-1). Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. The results represent three independent experiments. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01,^***P < 0.001 when compared to the control group