Fig. 4

GD induced high expression of GFAP in the astrocytes. Astrocytes were transfected with siRNA against AQP4, and Western blot analysis was used to detect the efficiency of the different siRNA sequences. a The knockdown efficiency of the three siRNA sequences targeting AQP4, as determined by Western blot analysis. b Quantification of AQP4 expression. **p < 0.01 vs. the control or si-Sc group. c Astrocytes exposed to GD for 24 h showed selective staining of AQP4 on the plasma membrane. d GFAP was overexpressed in astrocytes subjected to GD with or without AQP4 knockdown, while no alterations were found in the astrocytes with AQP4 knockdown compared to the control. e The levels of GFAP protein in astrocytes were detected via Western blot. f Quantification of GFAP expression. *p < 0.05 or **p < 0.01 vs. the control + 5.5 mM glucose group. n = 3 in each group