Interferon Regulatory Factor-5 Deficiency Ameliorates Disease Severity in the MRL/lpr Mouse Model of Lupus in the Absence of a Mutation in DOCK2
Figure 9
IRF5-deficient MRL/lpr mice have greatly reduced numbers of spleen plasmablasts and bone marrow plasma cells.
A. Spleen cells from IRF5+/+ and IRF5−/− MRL/lpr mice at 4 months of age were stained with antibodies against CD19, CD3, B220, CD22, CD44 and CD138. Plasmablasts (B220lowCD22lowCD44+CD138+) were identified within the splenic B cell (CD19+CD3−) population. Bone-marrow cells from IRF5+/+ and IRF5−/− MRL/lpr mice were stained with antibodies against CD4, CD8, F4/80, Gr-1, B220 and CD138. CD4−CD8−F4/80−Gr-1− cells were gated to analyze plasma cells (B220−CD138+). B. Numbers and percentages of spleen plasmablasts and bone marrow plasma cells of IRF5+/+ (filled circles) and IRF5−/− (open circles) MRL/lpr mice at 2, 3 and 4 months of age are shown. Each dot represents an individual mouse. Bars represent mean ± SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01.