Figure 7.

IRF1 knockdown reduces retinal microglia activation in vivo. (A,B) The LPS-activated BV2 cells were transfected with three IRF1 siRNAs and scrambled control siRNA (5 nM each). The IRF1 knockdown efficacy of siRNA at the mRNA level by qPCR (A) and at the protein level by Western blots (B). (C,D) The methylated IRF siRNA2 (1 nmol/µL, twice) was intravitreally injected into the mouse eyes at 1 and 4 days before LPS injection (100 ng/µL, 1 day) for microglial activation. Cell numbers without branches (C) and total Iba1 (+) cells (D) at the nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer (NFL/GCL) were quantified for the three groups: PBS + scrambled control siRNA, PBS + IRF1-siRNA, and LPS + IRF1-siRNA. (E) The representative Iba1 (+) cells were taken from the NFL/GCL of three groups. n = 9 areas of interest from 3 independent experiments and biological samples. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001. scale bar = 20 µm.