Fig. 4: Neuroprotective actions of Withaferin A in PD are mediated by DJ1-Nrf2 axis.

A Representative TH, GFAP, Iba1 and Nissl staining of SNc in WT and Nrf2-KO mice, scale bar, 400 μm. B Unbiased stereological counts of TH⁺, GFAP⁺, Iba1⁺ and Nissl⁺ cells in SNc of WT and Nrf2-KO mice. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 15 biologically independent animals; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 by two-way ANOVAs followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. C Representative photomicrographs of TH, GFAP and Iba1 staining in STR of WT and Nrf2-KO mice, scale bar, 2 mm. D Stereological counts in STR of WT and Nrf2-KO mice. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 9 biologically independent animals; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 by two-way ANOVAs followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. E Relative mRNA expression in SNc of WT and Nrf2-KO mice. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 8 biologically independent animals. F Representative immunoblots of TH, DAT, DJ1 and STING in SNc (cropped blot images are shown, see Supplementary Fig. 16 for full immunoblots). G Quantification of TH, DAT, DJ1 and STING levels. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 9 biologically independent animals. H Time to traverse beam apparatus, time to descend pole, Hind-limb clasping reflex score, fall latency from an accelerating rotarod. I Gait analysis. Data are mean ± s.e.m.; n = 9 biologically independent animals. Two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001. ns, not significant.