Fig. 4

Role of PMVEC apoptosis in septic pulmonary microvascular permeability barrier dysfunction. a Treatment of wild-type mice with the multi-caspase inhibitor Q-VD inhibited septic pulmonary microvascular EB-albumin leak at 4 h following CLP-sepsis. Q-VD treatment also markedly attenuated septic PMVEC death (PI+; panel b) and PMVEC apoptosis (FLIVO+, Annexin V+, TUNEL+; panels c and d) at 4 h following CLP-sepsis. n = 3-4 (Sham) and n = 4-6 (CLP). * p < 0.05, CLP vs. respective sham group; #, p < 0.05 Q-VD-treated vs. untreated CLP. Scale bar = 20 μm