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Figure 1 | Journal of Neuroinflammation

Figure 1

From: TGFβ signalling plays an important role in IL4-induced alternative activation of microglia

Figure 1

TGFβ1 enhances IL4-induced alternative activation of microglia. (A) Primary cultured microglial cells changed their morphology from round-shaped into ramified after treated with IL4 (10 ng/ml) and TGFβ1 (1 ng/ml) for 24 hours. This cellular morphological change was enhanced when microglia were co-treated with IL4 and TGFβ1. (B) Immunofluorescence staining for Arg1 demonstrated increased staining intensity for Arg1 after treatment with IL4 or TGFβ alone. Combined treatment with IL4 and TGFβ1 strongly enhanced Arg1 immunoreactivity. Scale bars indicate 100 μm. Quantitative RT-PCR showed increased Arg1 (C) and Ym1 (D) mRNA levels in primary microglia after IL4 treatment. Co-treatment with IL4 and TGFβ1 for 24 hours significantly increased Arg1 and Ym1 mRNA levels in primary microglia. (E) Western blotting revealed increased Arg1 and Ym1 protein levels in primary microglia after treatment with IL4. Again, co-treatment with IL4 and TGFβ1 increased the protein levels of Arg1 and Ym1. Representative western blot results from at least three independent experiments are shown. GAPDH was used as control for equal protein loading. (F) Densitometric evaluation of Arg1 and Ym1 band intensities and statistical analysis. Data are given as means ± standard error from three independent experiments: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (one-way analysis of variance).

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