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. 2022 May 11;16:886634. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.886634

FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2

Chronic binge ethanol persistently reduces key disease-associated microglial (DAM) genes and promotes a proinflammatory gene profile in females. Adult male and female 3xTg-AD mice received EtOH (5g/kg/d, i.g., 5d on 2d off) for 3 months (P168–P264), followed by prolonged abstinence until 14 months of age. Gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. (A–D) Expression of key protective DAM genes in cortex of both males and females (combined). Ethanol caused a significant reduction of (A) APOE, 25%, (B) TREM2, 28%, (C) LPL, 40%, and (D) CTSD, 24%. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, t-tests. (E) Heat map showing expression of pro-inflammatory genes in cortex. Ethanol persistently increased expression of several proinflammatory genes in females (11/13), with reductions in several genes found in males (8/13 genes). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) found significant enrichment of genes in both sexes (ethanol vs control), N = 3 males/group; 3 female control and 8 female ethanol. **p < 0.01.