Fig 2: IL-18 and IL-18BP detected by ELISA in the plasma of wild-type and Reeler mice (values expressed as mean ± SD). a IL-18 concentrations (pg/mL) and b IL-18BP concentrations (ng/mL) in Reeler mice versus wild-type group. Plasma IL-18 was reduced in Reeler mice (p = 00.0556). No significant difference was detected in IL-18BP levels in Reeler compared to wild-type mice

Fig 3: Cumulative mild stress induced increase of inflammatory cytokines and microglia activation in young adult CPMS mice. a Immunofluorescence staining for Iba1(red) was performed in the 8-week-old mice (n = 3 per group). scale bar 100 µm. b Microglia intensity was quantified in each region (Hip; 1.362 ± 0.08311, Amy; 1.377 ± 0.1037, PFC; 1.172 ± 0.05855). c Western blot analysis was performed using the cytosol isolated from hippocampus (Hip), amygdala (Amy) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). In each region, d CD86 (Hip; 2.227 ± 0.1656, Amy; 2.575 ± 0.2834, PFC; 3.479 ± 0.6652 vs CTL). e TNF-a (Hip; 3.054 ± 0.8463, Amy; 1.577 ± 0.09831, PFC; 2.311 ± 0.3439 vs CTL), f IL-6 (Hip; 1.850 ± 0.2804, Amy; 3.334 ± 0.8327, PFC; 1.923 ± 1.853 vs CTL), g IL-1ß (Hip; 3.363 ± 0.05453, Amy; 3.459 ± 0.6625, PFC; 2.442 ± 0.4368 vs CTL), h IL-18 (Hip; 3.985 ± 0.6116, Amy; 2.511 ± 0.6282, PFC; 2.511 ± 0.6107 vs CTL), and i IL-17 (Hip; 3.082 ± 0.7783, Amy; 1.861 ± 0.1675, PFC; 2.908 ± 0.8383 vs CTL) were normalized by GAPDH. All data are presented as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. CTL

Fig 4: Immunolocalization of IL-18 and IL-18BP in the mice brain. Wild-type mice: IL-18-associated positivity. Neurons as well as astrocytes and microglia are stained. a Magnification 4×; b magnification 10×; c magnification 20×; IL-18BP-associated positivity IL-18. d Magnification 10×; e magnification 20×. Reeler mice: much neurons and glial cells are stained, and the reaction is stronger. IL-18-associated positivity. f Magnification 4×; g magnification 10×; h magnification 20×; IL-18BP-associated positivity. i Magnification 10×; l magnification 20×

Fig 5: Macrophage infiltration and inflammasome activation in the tissue of aged mice: (a) immunofluorescence staining of F4/80 in kidney tissue. Bar = 250 μm; (b) double-immunofluorescence analysis of IL-18, F4/80, and the merged image. Bar = 50 μm. Green indicates FITC; red indicates Alexa Fluor 555.