Fig. 4

Persistent pro-inflammatory response is blunted by microglial p38α deletion. Ipsilateral dorsal hippocampi were analyzed via high sensitivity multiplex MSD ELISA assay for pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from sham and injured animals (n = 8–10/group) at a 7 days post-injury interval. a, bTrauma-induced expression of IL-1β had subsided to approximately basal levels in all groups. There was a persistent trend for increased IL6 production in WT mice that was reduced in KO mice, but the values did not reach significance. c,d The chronic elevation of TNFα was significantly reduced in the KO compared to WT mice. The levels of IL-33 remained in an elevated state in WT mice but were significantly reduced in KO mice. e, f The chronic elevation of the chemokines CCL2 and CXCL10 seen in the WT mice was reduced in the KO mice. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparison corrections on the pre-planned contrasts examining the effect of TBI in the WT versus KO conditions. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, comparing KO (blue bars) to WT (orange bars)