Fig. 7Figure 7
Lithium upregulates brain endothelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling and attenuates LPS-induced BBB leakage and neuroinflammation. A , Schematic illustration of experimental design. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway agonist Lithium (3 mmol/kg) or vehicle control (saline) was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected to mice at 30 min after LPS or saline injection. B , Mortality rate of mice at 24 h following vehicle ( n = 12 mice), LPS + vehicle ( n = 14 mice), or LPS + LiCl ( n = 12 mice) treatment. C , Body weight change of mice at 24 h following vehicle ( n = 8 mice), LPS + vehicle ( n = 9 mice), or LPS + LiCl ( n = 7 mice) treatment. D , Co-immunofluorescence staining of active β-catenin (non-phosphorylated) and CD31 in the brain cortex and its quantifications. Active β-catenin signal in endothelial cells was selectively quantified. E , Co-immunofluorescence staining of LEF1 and CD31 in the brain cortex and its quantifications. F , Co-immunofluorescence staining of mouse plasma IgG a