Skip to main content
Figure 2 | Molecular Neurodegeneration

Figure 2

From: Sustained, neuron-specific IKK/NF-κB activation generates a selective neuroinflammatory response promoting local neurodegeneration with aging

Figure 2

IKK2nCAmice show selective neuroinflammation. (A) mRNA was isolated from hippocampus of IKK2nCA mice and qRT-PCR analysis for various cytokines dipicts mild upregulation of Tnf and Cxcl10 only at 3M, whereas there were no alterations for Ptgs2 and Ccl2. Data presented are calculated relative to Hprt expression. (B) IKK2-CA induces microgliosis in the DG of IKK2nCA mice at 3M and 9M of age as represented by a larger population of Iba-1-positive microglia. (C) Representative images of Iba-1 immunohistochemistry show comparable number of microglia in the CA1-region of control and IKK2nCA mice at different ages. (D) Representative images of Iba-1 immunocytochemistry in brain sections indicate a normal microglial morphology and density in cortex of IKK2nCA mice at different ages. (E) Quantification of Iba1 positive cells in control and IKK2nCA mice at the age of 3, 6 and 9 months from B, C and D shows moderate microgliosis only in the DG, but not in the CA1-region and cortex (n = 3-4). (F) IKK2nCA mice exhibit astrogliosis as shown by the increased reactivity in the DG by immunofluorescent staining for GFAP, the astroglial marker (Age = 9M). GFAP positive area was measured using ImageJ64 software (n = 3). (G) Quantification of the GFAP positive area in the DG represents significantly enhanced GFAP immunoreactivity at 3M and 9M, as well as a marked tendency of an increased GFAP positive area at 6M, indicating astrogliosis (n = 3-4). Co = wild type and single transgenic littermate controls, IKK2nCA = transgenic mice with neuron-specific expression of constitutively active IKK2. (B-D) Inserts at the right bottom depict the magnification of the marked areas. All data are shown as mean ± SEM. All p-values are derived from two-tailed-unpaired student’s t test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. Scale bar: 50 μm.

Back to article page