Fig. 5

Astrocytes and microglia clear equal amounts of αSYN, but microglia clear extracellular Aβ more effectively. αSYN levels in the medium revealed that both astrocytes and microglia engulfed almost 75% of the initial αSYN. Furthermore, both astrocytes and microglia continued to ingest αSYN during the 7d of exposure. Secretion of αSYN was observed in all cultures at 24h+3d and 24h+6d (a–c). Analysis of Aβ in the medium revealed that astrocytes were less efficient in engulfing Aβ, compared to microglia. In the co-culture set-up, cells engulfed Aβ at the same level as in the microglial culture. Also, low secretion of Aβ could be observed at 24h+3d and 24h+6d in the microglia and co-cultures, whereas higher Aβ levels was observed at 4d+3d in the astrocyte cultures (d–f)