Botulinum toxin type A-targeted SPP1 contributes to neuropathic pain by the activation of microglia pyroptosis

Figure 2 SPP1 targeted by botulinum toxin type A promotes proliferation and represses apoptosis of lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia. A-E: Lipopolysaccharide-treated microglia were treated with control short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or SPP1 shRNA, or co-treated with botulinum toxin type A. The expression of SPP1 was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (A). The expression of SPP1 was measured by western blot (B). Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay (C). Cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry (D and E). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. BTX-A: Botulinum toxin type A.