Fig. 4

AXL mediates the phagocytic transformation of astrocytes in vitro. (A) Flow cytometry indicated the temporal phagocytosis ratio change of astrocytes. n = 3 per time point. (B) Representative images of PKH26 labeled apoptotic neurons (red) engulfed by astrocytes (green). The phagocytic astrocytes had a phagocytic cup structure (arrowhead) that contained PKH26+ debris or cells. (C) Brief process of in-vitro astrocytic phagocytosis analysis. (D) Immunofluorescence staining of astrocytic phagocytosis and quantification analysis of phagocytosis ratio with rmGas6 or R428 treatment after 24 h co-incubated. n = 3 per group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 by one-way ANOVA. (E) The astrocytic ingestion was assessed by flow cytometry after 24 h co-culture. Astrocytes were pretreated with R428 or rmGas6 for 1 h prior to the addition of PKH+ neurons. n = 3 per group. **p < 0.01 by one-way ANOVA