Fig. 3

Sestrin2 reduced microglia activation and promoted M2 phenotype polarization after tMCAO. a Representative images of Iba-1 in the ipsilateral hemisphere of NS and Sesn groups. Scale bar = 200 μm. b Schematic diagram illustrating the peri-infarct area (green) and the photographed region (boxed areas) of immunostaining images for Iba-1. Scale bar = 100 μm. c Quantification of Iba-1 relative density in NS and Sesn groups. N = 4 per group. d Western blot and quantification analysis show the expression of iNOS, CD206, and Arginase-1 in Sham, NS, and Sesn group at 3 days after tMCAO. N = 4–5 per group. Arg-1 = Arginase-1. e, f The results of the real-time PCR show mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IGF-1, IL-10, and TGF-β in Sham, NS, and Sesn groups at 1 day and 3 days after tMCAO. N = 4–6 per group. g Immunostaining images of CD16/32 in the ipsilateral hemisphere, white dotted lines show borderlines of ipsilateral hemisphere. V = ventricular. Scale bar = 400 μm. h Immunostaining images of CD16/32 (green) and Iba-1 (red) in NS and Sesn group. White arrows point at CD16/32⁺/Iba-1⁺ cells. Scale bar = 200 μm. i Quantification of CD16/32 fluorescent intensity and CD16/32⁺/Iba-1⁺ cell number in NS and Sesn groups. N = 4 per group. j Immunostaining images of Arginase-1 in ipsilateral hemisphere, white dotted lines show borderlines of ipsilateral hemisphere. V = ventricular. Arg-1 = Arginase 1. Scale bar = 400 μm. k Immunostaining of Arginase-1 (green) and Iba-1 (red) in NS and Sesn group. White arrows point at Arginase-1⁺/Iba-1⁺ cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. l Quantification of Arginase-1 fluorescent intensity and Arginase-1⁺/Iba-1⁺ cell number in NS and Sesn groups. Arg-1 = Arginase-1. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001