Figure 5.

Role of neurotrophins in C1q-dependent neuroprotection. A, Expression of NGF and NT-3 in untreated and C1q-treated neurons assessed by Western blot. Representative blots of three independent experiments are shown. B, Expression of NGF, NT-3, and GAPDH after transfection with negative control siRNA or siRNA specific for NGF, NT-3, or C/EBP-δ was assessed by PCR after 6 h of incubation with or without C1q. Gels representative of three independent experiments are shown. C–F, Inhibition of NGF and NT-3 expression prevents C1q-dependent neuroprotection. The effect of NGF and NT-3 inhibition on C1q-dependent neuroprotection was assessed by MAP-2 immunocytochemistry (C, E) and image analysis for quantification of total neurite length and number of roots (D, F) after 24 h of stimulation with C1q. Results represent means ± SD (n = 3, 7 fields per condition). Scale bars, 10 μm. UT, Untreated; px, pixels. Two-tailed nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test, *p < 0.05.