Fig. 5

Pro-inflammatory factor release and dynamic changes of M1-like and M2-like genotypes of activated microglia. a Representative immunoblots showing the changes in TSPO and P2X7R protein expression in primary cultured microglia which were treated with 100 μM BzATP for different times. b, c A comparison of average relative densitometric quantifications of the immunoreactive bands obtained at different times of treatment is shown in the bar charts (b for TSPO; c for P2X7R). d Immunofluorescent labeling showing the changes in morphology and TSPO expression in primary cultured microglia after the cells were treated with 100 μM BzATP for different periods of time. Scale bar: 20 μm for all images. e, f Cumulative data summarizing the changes in mRNA levels of IL-6 (e) and TNF-α (f) in cultured microglia extracts obtained in Ctr and those with BzATP treatment for different periods of time. g, h Bar chart showing the average extracellular IL-6 (g) and TNF-α (h) concentrations in cultured microglia in Ctr and groups of BzATP treatment for different periods of time. i Double immunofluorescent labeling showing the dynamic changes in expression of CD86 and CD206 in primary cultured microglia after the cells were treated with 100 μM BzATP for different periods of time. Scale bar: 20 μm for all images. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 vs. Ctr using ordinary one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test (b, c, e–h). All in vitro experiments: n = 3 biological replicates × 3 technical replicates