Fig. 3

EAE in A2aR-deficient mice. a EAE was induced in A2aR^−/− and wild-type littermate C57BL/6 mice (n = 9). Coloured arrows indicate the time points of ex vivo analyses. b Ex vivo analysis of splenic CD4⁺ cells from A2aR^−/− and wild-type animals at day 7 post immunization with MOG_35-55 peptide (see blue arrow in Fig. 3a). Cells were cultured in the presence of the antigen and irradiated APC for 5 days and then analysed for their cytokine production by flow cytometry (n = 5). c Quantification of inflammatory foci in the spinal cord at acute phase of EAE (day 14, see red arrow in Fig. 3a). d Quantification of inflammatory foci in the spinal cord and association with myelin debris at chronic phase of EAE (day 42, see orange arrow in Fig. 3a). Bars on the left show all foci, bars on the middle and right show the same foci differentiated into foci with and without myelin debris. e Representative images of histological analysis of the spinal cord damage in chronic phase. The images on the right correspond to a magnification of the image on the left (indicated by dotted line and arrow). Red arrowheads indicate the area with disruption of myelin tissue. Scale bars = 50 μm. f Oil red O lipid stain visualisation of myelin debris in spinal cord lesions (day 42; see also Additional file 1: Figure S5). Scale bars = 100 μm. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01