Figure 4

Expression of CXCR4 in rat lumbar DRG ipsilateral to gp120/hCD4 nerve treatment and following the combination of gp120/hCD4 and ddC treatments. A) CXCR4 mRNA transcripts present in lumbar DRG removed from vehicle-treated rodents at post-operative day (POD)14. Many non-neuronal cells strongly expressed CXCR4 mRNA. This data is not unlike previous observations [22]. B) CXCR4 protein levels after sham treatment were mainly expressed in non-neuronal cells and only occasional neurons. After gp120/hCD4 treatment, the mRNA and protein patterns of expression for the CXCR4 receptor did not change by POD14, when compared to sham treated animals (C,D). E) gp120/hCD4 treatment, in combination with ddC treatment produced upregulation of CXCR4 mRNA expression in neurons of all sizes by POD21. F) Protein expression for the CXCR4 receptor was also upregulated in neurons of mostly small and medium diameters after the combination of gp120/hCD4 and ddC treatments at POD21. Arrows: positive cells; arrowheads: negative cells. Scale bar: 100 um. (n = 4/treatment condition).