Fig. 8

Short-term neutralization of CKLF1 produced long-term improvements in behavioral performance and restored microglial phagocytosis after stroke. A Schematic diagram showing that the neutralization of CKLF1 restored microglial phagocytosis and improved the long-term outcomes of stroke established by photothrombosis. B–D Functional recovery was assessed by the cylinder test (B), grid walking task (C) and pole climbing test (D) at baseline and 3, 7 and 14 days after stroke (n = 6 per group), *p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. IgG-treated group at the corresponding time point. Interaction F (DFn, DFd): cylinder test: F (9, 60) = 3.947; grid walking task: F (9, 60) = 40.09; pole climbing test: F (9, 60) = 28.37. E Neutralization of CKLF1 maintains neutrophil phagocytosis at 1 and 4 DPI. Microglia were stained with an antibody against Iba-1 (green), nuclei were stained with Hoechst (blue), and neutrophils were stained with Ly6G (red). Typical images of morphology of phagocytosis of neutrophils by microglia in IgG and CKLF1 antibody-treated mice. Scale bar: 15 μm