Figure 5
Human NSC transplantation reduces microglial activation. Immunofluorescence staining for Iba-1 (red), a microglial marker, and Stem121, an hNSC marker, (A) sham, (B) MCAO/R, and (C) MCAO/R + hNSC engrafted mice (Insets, higher magnification). Microglial activation was increased 48 hours post-MCAO/R, while hNSC transplantation suppressed activation by 24 hours post-transplantation (arrowhead, hNSC transplantation site). (D) Quantification of Iba-1-positive active microglia per area (0.15 mm2) in different mouse groups (n = 4, *P <0.05, ***P <0.001 versus sham; ###P <0.001 versus MCAO/R). (E) Western blot analysis showing the Iba-1 protein level in the ipsilesional cortex. (F) Quantification of E (n = 3, ***, P <0.001 versus sham group; ##, P <0.01 versus MCAO/R group. (G) Western blot analysis showing the CD11b protein level in the ipsilesional cortex. (H) Quantification of G (n = 3, ****, P <0.0001 versus sham group; ####, P <0.0001 versus MCAO/R group). Data expressed as mean ± SEM. Rectangles indicate sampling regions. Gray region indicates infarct. MCAO/R, middle cerebral artery occlusion with reperfusion; NSC, neural stem cell; SEM, standard error of the mean.