Fig. 5.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulates surface expression of TSPO in primary microglia cells. a Representative flow cytometry dot plots of surface TSPO and CellROX® fluorescence in live primary microglia cells that were treated with and without N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger followed by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), an ROS inducer. Percentage of surface TSPO expression (b) and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of ROS levels (c) with TBHP, ± NAC treatment. Surface TSPO expression and ROS levels increase with TBHP, while NAC treatment inhibited ROS and surface TSPO caused by TBHP. Data are expressed as mean ± sem n = 3 independent experiments: One-way ANOVA was performed; *p = 0.0003, F_2,6 = 44.2 compared to basal levels; **p = 0.0046, F_2,6 = 15.1 compared to basal levels