Fig. 1
FoxP3 and cytokine expression in Cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice. A RPE flatmount preparations from transgenic mice that display features of geographic atrophy (Cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice and their wild-type littermates) stained with phalloidin (green) and for FoxP3 (red) at different ages: panels from left to right: 2, 8, 12 month wild type (WT) and 8 and 12 month Cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice. Scale bar represents 20 µm. B Same as A, but at higher magnification to highlight the subcellular localization of FoxP3. Scale bar represents 20 µm. C Verification of FoxP3 localization in the nucleus: RPE flatmounts from 12-month Cx3cr1GFP/WT mice were stained (from left to right) with phalloidin (green), with DAPI (blue) and for FoxP3 (red); the red dots clearly indicate the presence of FoxP3 in nucleus. Scale bar represents 20 µm. D Changes in gene expression of the cytokines IL-1β, MCP-1, CXCL1 and the transcription factor FoxP3 in the RPE/choroid of Cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice and their wildtypes in arbitrary units (a.u.), graphs arranged to compare the progression from the ages 8 months to 12 months (normalized to 18S RNA). (CXCL1 = chemokine (CXC-motif) ligand-1; IL-1β (or IL1b) = interleukin-1β; FoxP3 = forkhead box protein P3; MCP-1 = monocyte chemoattractant protein). Student’s t-test was performed, p values **p < 0.01; N = 5