Fig. 5

KYNA attenuates the activation of the α7nAChR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in gp120-induced astrocytes. A Astrocytes were treated with gp120 at a wide range of concentrations from 1.5 to 1500 pM for 24 h. The expression of α7nAChR on the cell membrane is indicated by α-bungarotoxin binding images (scale bar: 100 μm). B The α7nAChR protein in lysate from astrocytes exposed to increasing doses of gp120 (F_{5, 42} = 5.972, P = 0.0003). C Immunofluorescence showing the effects of KYNA on α7nAChR (scale bar: 100 μm). D Densitometric analysis of immunoblot for α7nAChR expression (F_{5, 114} = 20.32, P < 0.0001). E The mRNA levels of Jak2/Stat3. F Protein expression of the JAK2/p-JAK2/STAT3/p-STAT3 relative to the housekeeping protein GAPDH (F_{5, 60} = 20.02, P < 0.0001; F_{5, 48} = 4.311, P = 0.0026, respectively). In B, D, F, data are presented as mean ± SEM. In E, values are shown in the box and whisker plot, where the line in the box corresponds to the median. Throughout, P values are calculated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. compared to control group. ^$P < 0.05, ^$$P < 0.01, ^$$$P < 0.001 compared to 150 pM HIV-1 gp120 treated group