Fig. 2

IMG cells express markers specific to microglia. a Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to assess the expression of the microglia markers CD11b and F4/80 by IMG and SH-SY5Y cells. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of the neuronal marker NeuN by IMG and SH-SY5Y cells. Images are at ×40 magnification. DIC images paired with each fluorescent image are shown. b Immunoblot of IMG and either SH-SY5Y or C6 glioma cell extracts. Whole-cell extracts are used unless otherwise indicated. Blots were probed for NeuN, GFAP, or F4/80. Loading controls were β-tubulin (whole cell) and Lamin B1 (nuclear extracts). c Quantitative PCR was used to assess transcript levels of the microglia-specific markers Fcrls, Itgb5, and Sall1 in IMG and BV-2 cells. A paired t test was used to determine the significance of the data. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.005; ***P < 0.001; n.s. is not significant. Data are represented as means ± s.d. (n = 3, technical replicates). Each experiment was repeated on at least two separate occasions