Figure 1

Expression of OPN in lungs, spleen and plasma after sepsis in mice . Lungs, spleen and blood samples were harvested at 20 h after CLP or sham operation. Lung expression of OPN at its (A) RNA and (B) protein levels was measured by using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. OPN expression in the spleen tissues was determined at its (C) RNA and (D) protein levels. OPN expression in each sample was normalized to β-actin expression and the value of sham group was designated as one for comparison. (E) OPN expression in 3.0 μL of plasma from sham and CLP animals was determined by Western blot. Each blot was quantified by densitometry analysis. Representative blots against OPN and β-actin are shown. Data are expressed as means ± SEM (n = 5 mice/group) and compared by Student’s t test (^* P <0.05 vs. shams). CLP, cecal ligation and puncture; OPN, osteopontin; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SEM, standard error of the mean.