Figure 1

Lack of EP2 enhanced microglial clearance of α-synuclein aggregates. A and B). Tissue sections obtained from patients with dementia with Lewy body disease were incubated with WT and EP2-/- microglia for 48 hrs. Residual α-synuclein aggregates were determined by Western blotting (two bands corresponding to dimers and trimers of α-synuclein). *: p < 0.05 for amount of residual synuclein aggregates in tissue sections treated with EP2-/- vs. WT microglia. C) Tissue sections were stained with CD11b antibody 48 hrs after incubation with microglia. The image demonstrates an activated microglial cell in ex vivo-cultured slides in close proximity to aggregated α-synuclein. Red, CD11b for microglia showing a macrophage-like microglia; green, antibody against human α-synuclein, demonstrating α-synuclein aggregates; and blue, DAPI nuclear staining).