Fig. 3: IL-1R1 is expressed by brain vasculature.

a, b Brains from chronically infected C57B6/J WT mice were sectioned and stained with DAPI (blue) and antibodies against laminin (red) and IL-1R1 (green), showing parenchymal blood vessels. c–e WT (CD45.1) and IL-1R1 KO (CD45.2) mice were lethally irradiated and then reconstituted with bone marrow from either WT or IL-1R1 KO mice. Mice were allowed to reconstitute for 6 weeks and then were infected i.p. with 10 cysts of the Me49 strain of T. gondii. 4 weeks p.i. mice were sacrificed and their brains were harvested for analysis. (n = 39 mice). d Brains were homogenized and cysts were counted by light microscopy. e Brains were processed for flow cytometry and the numbers of total leukocytes were calculated. Cells were pre-gated on singlets/live. d, e Data compiled from two experiments, statistics performed using a randomized block ANOVA (two way). Data presented as mean values ± SEM. f WT and IL-1R1 KO mice were infected i.p. with 10 cysts of the Me49 strain of T. gondii. 6 weeks p.i. the mice were sacrificed and brains were homogenized, RNA was extracted, and qPCR analysis was performed. Data compiled from 2 (Ccl2) or 3 (Icam1, Vcam1) experiments; statistics performed using a randomized block ANOVA (two way). Data presented as mean values ± SEM. (n = 26 mice for Icam1 and Vcam1, n = 16 mice for Ccl2). g–j Brains from chronically infected WT and IL-1R1 KO mice were sectioned and stained for either ICAM-1 (g, h) or VCAM-1 (i, j). Representative images of blood vessels are shown. g, h Scale bars are 50 μm and i, j scale bars are 60 μm.