Fig. 6

CXCL1–CXCR2 interactions mediate the Aβ-induced synaptotoxic responses of astrocytes. Mouse neurons, transfected at 7DIV with GFP, were exposed to WTCM astro, TGCM astro or TGCM astro-ID for 24 h in the presence or absence of pre-treatment for 20 min with 40 ng/ml SB225002. Neurons were imaged at 14DIV. A Representative images of dendritic spines (n = 4, four independent experiments each with three technical repeats). Scale bar is 5 μm. B Quantification of spine density per μm showed that reductions in spine numbers upon exposure to TGCM astro and TGCM astro-ID is prevented when neurons are pre-treated with the CXCR2 antagonist. Data is normalised to control conditions (WTCM astro, vehicle). Data was analysed using two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons test. Measures of neuron health across three wells for four independent experiments (n = 4) showed C reduced total neurite length, D fewer nodes, and E fewer roots upon exposure of neurons to TGCM astro that is prevented by pre-treatment with SB225002, demonstrating that blocking neuronal CXCR2 prevents the synaptotoxic effects of Aβ-exposed astrocytes. Data was analysed using two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons test. Data on graphs is mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01