Decrease by hirudin administration of LPS-mediated up-regulation of EPCR mRNA levels.

(A) Rats were surgically prepared and injected with saline (N) or LPS alone (LPS) or infused with hirudin before and after LPS injection (LPS + hirudin). Total RNA was prepared from rat lungs and hearts isolated 6 hours after LPS injection and used for Northern blot analysis. (B) Below the Northern blot is the quantitation of the change based on the ratio of the intensity of EPCR to CHO-B mRNA on the PhosphorImager. (C) Changes in fibrinogen levels in the above animals treated with LPS or LPS plus hirudin.