Fig. 8

Esketamine alleviates TBI progression via STAT3-mediated macrophage polarization. (A) Immunofluorescence images showing STAT3 localization in F4/80 + macrophages in the brain tissue of Control and TBI mice (n = 3). Scale bar = 50 μm. (B, C) Western blot analysis of p-STAT3 and STAT3 in RAW264.7 cells (B) and bone BMDMs (C) treated with DMSO or 80 µg/ml Esk. Quantification of the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio is shown on the right (n = 3). (D) Relative mRNA expression levels of M1 marker (iNOS) and M2 markers (Arg1, CD206) in brain tissue of TBI mice treated with Esk or Esk + colivelin (a STAT3 agonist) (F = 43.07, 31.49, 37.9, respectively). (E) NSS in TBI mice treated with Esk or Esk + colivelin (F = 33.36). (F) Relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) in TBI mice treated with Esk or Esk + colivelin (F = 74.12, 25.44, 37.41, respectively). Statistical significance: Data are represented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001