Fig. 5

PPARγ bound to the region of miR-7b promoter. a Western blot was conducted to validate the expressions of PPARγ, ELK1, and ETS1 in EL4 cells stimulated by ESA for 24 h in vitro. b The expressions of PPARγ, ELK1, and ETS1 in mouse placentas infected with T. gondii were assayed by western blot (n = 3 mice). c PPARγ expression in EL4 cells stimulated by ESA for 24 h in vitro was detected by immunofluorescence. Scale: 40 μm. d The expression of Foxp3 and PPARγ in EL4 cells stimulated with ESA in vitro for 24 h was detected by immunofluorescence double staining. Nuclear: DAPI, blue; Foxp3: green; PPARγ: red. Scale: 40 μm. e The luciferase activity in EL4 cells that were transfected respectively with recombinant plasmids containing the WT or mutations (Mut 1, Mut 2, and Mut 1 + 2) sequences of miR-7b promoter was detected by luciferase reporter assay at 48 h post-transfection. NP: normal pregnant mice; TI: Toxoplasma-infected pregnant mice; ESA: T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens; TSS: transcriptional starting site. Data were representative of the results of three independent experiments (mean ± SD). Statistical analysis was conducted using two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test. *: P < 0.05; n.s.: P > 0.05