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Figure 2. Transjunctional migration of monocytes is associated with occludin disappearance and regulated by MMPs. A) Time-lapse observation of monocytes (red) migrating through an occludin junction (green) revealed the complete local disappearance of junctional occludin. Time is indicated in minutes. B) Broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor 10 µM BB-3103 prevented monocyte-induced endothelial gap formation and occludin disappearance (time in minutes). Bars: 10 µm. C) Quantification of transjunctional migration. Data are expressed relative to the number of occludin-associated monocytes at 10 min (n=3, *P<0.05 vs. control). D) Inhibition of MMP activity abolished NR8383 monocyte-induced paracellular permeability to FITC-dextran without affecting basal permeability levels (n=4, *P<0.05).
