Fig. 3

Initial immune response in the CP and BBB upon T. gondii infection. Single live cells from (A–D) isolated CP and (E–H) brain were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of MHCII was evaluated on endothelial cells (CD31⁺ CD45⁻) from both tissues. Dot plots (A, E) represent the gating strategy based on FMO controls. Histograms (B, F) provide a visual representation of the temporal MHCII expression levels by endothelial cells over T. gondii early phase of infection. Bar charts (C, G) show the frequency in % of cells derived from parent population (CD31⁺ CD45 ⁻). Bar charts (D, H) show MFI values of MHCII expression on the endothelial cells. RT-PCR of total RNA isolated from CP and BMV was performed for (I) cytokine expression, (J) IFN-γ-regulated host-defense factors, and (K) chemokines. Data from C, D, G, H show individual values and mean ± SEM, n = 5, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 (one-way ANOVA, with Tukey’s correction). Data from I, J, K were normalized to naïve (day 0) BMV mean, and individual values as mean ± SEM are shown, n = 2–4, ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001, ^####p < 0.0001, (one-way ANOVA, with Dunnett’s correction). # indicates significant difference between CP and BMV from the same time-point, and * indicates significant difference between day 0 and the time-point being analyzed from the same tissue