Fig. 1

NRG-1 protects against CXCL10, heme-induced astrocytes, and endothelial cell apoptosis. Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) and human neuroglial cells/astrocytes (M059 K) were treated with increasing doses of NRG-1 followed by CXCL10 or heme treatment, respectively, for 24 h. Apoptosis and cell proliferation were measured by TUNEL or MTT assay accordingly. a CXCL10 induces apoptosis in hCMEC/D3 and M059K cells in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of NRG-1 ranging from 50 to 250 ng/ml attenuated apoptosis in hCMEC/D3 and M059K cells. b 30 μM of heme-induced apoptosis in hCMEC/D3 and M059K cells around 52 and 20%, respectively. NRG-1 protected against heme-induced apoptosis of hCMEC/D3 and M059K cells in a dose-dependent manner. c. Treatment of hCMEC/D3 cells with heme at the concentration from 10 to 60 μM for 24 h induced 20–30% apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, and cell apoptosis was attenuated when cells were pre-incubated with 100 ng/ml of NRG-1 (*p < 0.05). d Treatment of M059K cells with heme at concentration from 10 to 60 μM for 24 h induced 8.0–20.6% cell death in a dose-dependent manner, and cell apoptosis was attenuated when cells were pre-incubated with 100 ng/ml of NRG-1 (*p < 0.05). e The hCMEC/D3 cells expressed vWF, an endothelial cell marker