Figure 6. Effects of CDECM on the protein expression of inflammatory factors. A: The expression of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteins in the corneas. B: The expression of the TNF-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) proteins in the conjunctivas. Western blotting analyses determined the protein expression of inflammatory factors in the corneas or conjunctivas of the NOD.B10.H2^b mice after the removal of desiccation stress and after 10 days of instillation of PBS or chondrocyte-derived extracellular matrix (CDECM) five times per day. The quantitative data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). *p<0.05 versus the value in the DS 10D group. C, Control; DS, desiccation stress for 10 days; PBS, PBS group after 10 days of instillation; CDECM, CDECM group after 10 days of instillation.