Figure 6

RT-PCT analysis of biological markers in ALIp and ALIexp with IAH at different PEEP levels. Biological markers were associated with inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6), apoptosis (caspase-3), fibrogenesis (type III procollagen (PCIII)), damage inflicted on alveolar type I epithelial (receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE)) and endothelial cell (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)). ALI, acute lung injury. p, pulmonary. exp, extrapulmonary. IAH, intra-abdominal hypertension. Animals were ventilated with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5, 7, and 10 cmH₂O. Relative gene expression was calculated as a ratio of the average gene expression levels compared with the reference gene (36B4) and expressed as fold changes relative to PEEP5. Data are presented as box plot with median lines, 25^th- and 75^th-percentile boxes, and 10^th- and 90^th- percentile error bars of six animals in each group.*Significantly different from PEEP5 (P <0.05). #Significantly different from PEEP7 (P <0.05).