Fig. 3

Celastrol treatment significantly promotes ST2/IL-33 activation in microglia and promotes microglial M2 polarization 10 days after stroke. Microglia were double-stained with CD16 or CD206 and Iba-1 in brain sections obtained from celastrol or vehicle-treated rat 10 days after MCAO, or from sham-operated rat. a Representative cortical sections double-stained with CD16 (M1 marker) (green) and Iba-1(red). Scale bar = 20 μm. b Quantification of the percentage of CD16⁺/Iba-1⁺ cells among total Iba-1⁺ cells. The data are presented as mean ± SD. ^***P < 0.001 vs. control group. ^###P < 0.001 vs. MCAO group. c Cortical sections double-stained with CD206 (M2 marker) (green) and Iba-1 (red). Scale bar = 20 μm. d Quantification of the percentage of CD206⁺/Iba-1⁺ cells among total Iba-1⁺ cells. The data are presented as mean ± SD. ^***P < 0.001 vs. control group. ^###P < 0.001 vs. MCAO group. e Cortical sections double-stained with ST2 (green) and Iba-1 (red). Scale bar = 20 μm. f Quantification of mean fluorescence intensity of ST2-positive microglia. The data are presented as mean ± SD. ^***P < 0.001 vs. control group. ^##P < 0.01 vs. MCAO group. (G-K) ELISA results showing the expression of serum IL-33 (g), IL-1β (h), IL-6 (i), TNF-α (j), and IL-10 (k). The data are presented as mean ± SD. ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001 vs. control group. ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 vs. MCAO group. n = 6 rats