Fig. 7

Tdp-43∆NLS mice display Tdp-43 aggregation-induced neuro-inflammation in the CNS. (A-B) Representative IF colocalization images showing an increased population of Iba-1⁺ (Green) activated microglia surrounding p62⁺ cells (neurons; Red) in the brain cortex and spinal cord tissues in MN-Tdp-43∆NLS mice compared to sham mice (N = 10 different 1mm² microscopic fields from 6 mice/group). Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Scale bar = 10 µm (A). (B) Quantitation of the number of Iba-1⁺ cells per mm². (C-D) Representative IF colocalization images displaying activated Gfap⁺ astrocytes surrounding neurons with Tdp-43 pathology in the cortical region of MN-Tdp-43∆NLS mice but not in sham mice. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Scale bar = 10 µm (C). (D) Quantitation of the number of Gfap⁺ cells per mm² in the cortex and spinal cord. (E) Quantitation of relative mRNA levels (fold change) of neuro-inflammatory markers Il-6 and Tnf-α in the cortical tissues of MN-Tdp-43∆NLS and sham mice (N = 6/group). Gapdh served as the internal control. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM and analyzed by multiple paired t-tests. *, P < 0.05