Fig. 2

P2 × 7R inhibition reduced the expression level of genes involved in inflammation, apoptosis, vasodilation, and platelet activation in brain microvessels and serum cytokine levels in the BBG-treated–CIE-exposed animals. (A) Heatmap shows the upregulation of genes involved in inflammation, apoptosis, vasodilation, and platelet activation in the brain microvessels of the CIE-exposed animals. BBG treatment led to significant reduction in these levels. (B) Cytokine levels after CIE exposure were analyzed by MSD ELISA. The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, KC/GRO, and IL-2 were significantly lower in the BBG-treated–CIE-exposed animals than in the CIE-exposed animals only. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was used for the statistical analyses; * p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.005, **** p < 0.0001 compared with CIE-exposed mice as controls. (n = 3–6, mean ± SEM)