Figure 5.

LPS-induced phagocytosis of bacteria by primary microglia is mediated by extracellular calreticulin. (A) Primary rat microglia stimulated by LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h significantly increase their phagocytosis of E. coli compared to the “-LPS” control. (B) LPS-induced phagocytosis is inhibited by applying a media swap immediately prior to bacterial addition, compared to the “–LPS – media swap” control. (C) LPS-induced phagocytosis is inhibited in the presence of a function-blocking anti-calreticulin antibody, compared to the “–LPS + IgG” control. Values are means ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. Statistical comparisons were made via student's t-test (A) or via two-way ANOVA (B,C). NS p ≥ 0.05, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. controls, except where indicated by bars over relevant columns.