Fig. 3

Identification and polarization of microglia/macrophages in the granuloma microenvironment of neuroschistosomiasis patients. a-c: Microglia/macrophages constituted the major portions of the granulomas (circle) surrounding the eggs as highlighted by IBA1 staining. The schistosomal egg shell (asterisk) can be observed clearly with multinucleated giant cells (arrow) in the vicinity. d-f: Immunofluorescent staining indicating M1 polarization of microglia/macrophages. iNOS (green) and IBA1 (red) were well co-expressed in the vicinity of the eggs (asterisk). Merged image demonstrated that the same cells were exactly the M1 type microglia/macrophages. g-h: Immunohistochemical staining illustrating negative expression of M2 marker (Arg1) of microglia/macrophages surrounding the eggs (asterisk)