Journal: Nature Communications
Article Title: Targeting C1q prevents microglia-mediated synaptic removal in neuropathic pain
doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59849-1
Figure Lengend Snippet: a Volcano plot showing gene expression changes in neuropathic mice at day 7 post SNI. Each dot is a gene. Positive fold change indicates higher expression in the spinal cord of SNI-injured mice than in naïve. Genes highlighted in blue are related to complement and CX3CR1 pruning pathways. Dashed horizontal orange line indicates P -value of 0.05. b Drawing illustrates microglia and signaling molecules that participate in complement and CX3CR1 pruning mechanisms. c1 - e1 Representative images of C1q, C3, and CR3 labeling in the dorsal horn of SNI mice at day 7 post-SNI. c2 - e2 Quantifications of fluorescence intensity of dorsal horn C1q, and C3, as well as number of CR3 + microglia in laminae I-III ( n = 8 mice per group; 4 mice per sex). f Temporal expression changes of ipsilateral C1q, C3, and CR3 levels normalized to the contralateral side ( n = 5 mice per group; 3 males and 2 females). g1-h1 Representative dorsal horn images of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 immunolabelling in SNI mice at day 7 post-SNI. g2-h2 Quantifications of fluorescence intensity of dorsal horn CX3CL1, and the number of CX3CR1 + microglia in laminae I-III ( n = 8 mice per group; 4 mice per sex). i1 High-resolution image of CX3CR1 (red) expression in microglia (blue) sampled from ipsilateral and contralateral dorsal horn (quantified i2 ) ( n = 8 mice per group; 4 mice per sex). j Temporal expression changes of ipsilateral number of CX3CR1+ microglia and CX3CL1 fluorescence intensity levels normalized to the contralateral side ( n = 5 mice per group; 3 males and 2 females). For transcriptomics, false discovery rate (FDR) is used to correct for multiple two-sided t-tests ( a ). Means are plotted with individual data points ± SEM. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, and **** p < 0.0001 analyzed with paired two-tailed t-test ( c2 - h2 ) and unpaired two-tailed t-test ( i2 ). ns, analyzed with two-tailed t-test comparing day 3 and month 5 time points ( f , j ). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Article Snippet: For the C1q neutralizing antibodies experiment, animals received i.p injections of either the ANX-M1.21 anti-C1q function blocking antibody (provided by Annexon Biosciences) or IgG isotype control (provided by Annexon Biosciences) at 100 mg/kg every 4 days starting 1 day prior to peripheral nerve injury until the experimental endpoint.
Techniques: Gene Expression, Expressing, Labeling, Fluorescence, Two Tailed Test