Fig. 1

MCT4 expression is upregulated in astrocytes of EAE mice. (A) Representative images (low and high magnification) showing immunofluorescence staining of MCT4 in the astrocytes (GFAP) in the spinal cords from naive, EAE onset (score 1; Day 7–17 p.i.), peak (score ≥ 3; Day 14–24 p.i.), and chronic (score ≥ 2; Day 21–26 p.i.) mice. (B) Quantification of mean fluorescence intensity of MCT4 in the spinal cord of EAE onset (n = 3), peak (n = 6), chronic (n = 3) and naive (n = 5) mice. (C) Quantification of MCT4 positive area coverage in spinal cord in different groups of mice. EAE onset (n = 3), peak (n = 6), chronic (n = 3) and naive (n = 5). (D) Quantification of MCT4⁺GFAP⁺ cells in the total number of GFAP⁺ cells in EAE onset (n = 3), peak (n = 3), chronic (n = 3) and naive (n = 3) mice. (E) qRT-PCR analysis of MCT4 in primary astrocytes treated alone or with TNF-α and IL-1β (left), or treated with splenocytes supernatants of control mice (Ctl_sup) or with splenocytes supernatants of MOG_35–55-induced EAE mice (MOG_sup) for 24 h. (F) Analysis of MCT4 mRNA expression in normal-appearing white matter from relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and non-MS control tissue from GEO dataset GSE214334. (G) Analysis of MCT4 mRNA expression in control tissue and rim of chronic active MS lesions from GSE108000. Scale bar: 50 μm. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, using one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparison test (B, C, D and F), using unpaired t test (E and G)