Fig. 2

Concussive mild TBI increased caspase-1 activation biosensor bioluminescence intensity in the brain and hindpaw area of mTBI mice in vivo. A–C Thinned-skull cranial window enables long-term and consistent IVIS caspase-1 activation imaging. A Sample images show windowed caspase-1 activation biosensor mouse after window preparation (baseline) followed for three weeks post installation. B, C No change in caspase-1-mediated inflammatory signals in both male and female windowed animals. D–F Repetitive mTBIs promote caspase-1 activation bioluminescence IVIS signal. D Sample images show bioluminescence signals in caspase-1 activation reporter mice at 1 day after each injury. Injuries were separated by one week. The analyzed ROIs (red circles) were quantified across all time points as associated area under the curve (AUC) measurements. E, F Significantly elevated brain and paw caspase-1 signals in both injured mice were detected 1 day after each injury (n = 20–24 mice per group; **p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, repeated-ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD)