Fig. 6

Asperosaponin VI restores the microglia–neuron crosstalk in vivo and in vitro. A and B Effects of GW9662 treatment on mRNA and protein levels of ligand-receptor pairs that mediate crosstalk between neurons and microglia (Cx3CR1/Cx3CL1, CD200/CD200R) in hippocampus of ASA VI + CMS mice. C Schematic diagram of the neuron–microglia cell co-culture system. Neurons were seeded in the top compartment of the transwell, and microglia were cultured in the bottom compartment. Subsequently, the co-cultured cells were treated with PBS or LPS for 24 h in presence or absence ASA VI or/and GW9662. D and E The effects of GW9662 treatment on endogenous CX3CR1 and CD200R expression in primary microglia by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting after the microglia co-cultured with neuron were treat with LPS for 24 h in presence ASA VI. Scale bar, 5 μm. Data are displayed with mean ± SEM (n = 4–5), *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple-comparisons test)