Fig. 2.

Inactivation of astrocytic Dll4 reduces disability during the onset and plateau of EAE disease. (A) Dll4^ACKOP mice and control mice induced with EAE were scored daily according to a widely-used 5-point scale (EAE scoring: 1 limp tail; 2 limp tail and weakness of hind limb; 3 limp tail and complete paralysis of hind legs; 4 limp tail, complete hind leg and partial front leg paralysis). Statistical significance was determined by using a 2 ways Anova test followed by the Holm-Sidak’s multiple comparisons test (*: p ≤ 0.05; **: p ≤ 0.01; ***: p ≤ 0.001 ****: p ≤ 0.0001). (Dll4^ACKOP n = 10, WT n = 9). (B) Dll4^ACKOP and control mice EAE peak score and (C) EAE average score during time of disability (mice present symptoms) were quantified other the course of the disease. (D) Dll4^ACKOC mice and control mice induced with EAE were scored daily on a standard 5-point scale, two ways Anova. (Dll4^ACKOC n = 15, WT n = 15). (E) Dll4^ACKOC and control mice EAE peak score and (F) EAE average score during time of disability were quantified other the course of the disease. (G-J) Non-pathologic spinal cord tissues and spinal cord EAE lesions from Dll4^ACKOP mice, Dll4^ACKOC mice and littermate controls were harvested at 18 days post induction. (G-H) Dll4^ACKOP mice and control lesions (low magnification images) and (I-J) Dll4^ACKOC mice and control lesions (low magnification images) were immuno-stained with an anti-MBP (in green) antibody. (H, J) White matter MBP positive areas were quantified (the white matter (WM) is delimited from the grey matter (GM) by the white dotted lines). (H) (Non-pathologic tissues: Dll4^ACKOP mice n = 4, WT n = 4; EAE tissues: Dll4^ACKOP mice n = 5, WT n = 6), (J) (Non-pathologic tissues: Dll4^ACKOC mice n = 4, WT n = 4; EAE tissues: Dll4^ACKOC mice n = 6, WT n = 7)). Statistical significance was determined by using a Mann-Whitney U test