(A) Expression of PD-1 on naïve, CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo cells from MRL/Faslpr mice. Grey shaded is isotype control, black line is PD-1.
(B & C) Expression of bcl6 and prdm1 (Blimp1) transcripts in sorted CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo cells isolated from spleens of 12–16 week old MRL/Faslpr mice. Results are representative of 3 experiments. In (B), **p = 0.0029 (comparing CD62Llo PSGL1hi and CD62Llo PSGL1lo cells), **p = 0.0093 (CD62Lhi PSGL1hi vs. CD62Llo PSGL1lo), and in (C), *p = 0.0427 (CD62Llo PSGL1hi vs. CD62Llo PSGL1lo), *p = 0.0391 (CD62Lhi PSGL1hi vs. CD62Llo PSGL1lo).
(D) Protein expression of Bcl6 and Blimp1 in sorted CD62Lhi PSGL1hi, CD62Llo PSGL1hi, and CD62Llo PSGL1lo cells isolated from spleens of 12–16 week old MRL/Faslpr mice. The human B cell line BJAB was used as a positive control for Bcl6 and purified B cells activated in vitro with LPS for 48 hours served as a positive control for Blimp1. Actin was used as a loading control. Results are representative of 2 experiments.
(E & F) Spleens from 7–8 week old Bcl6-intact or -deficient MRL/Faslpr mice were analyzed for the presence of PSGL1lo cells. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments from 3 cohorts of mice, with 4–5 mice per group. ***p < 0.0001 (Bcl6+/+ vs. Bcl6−/−), **p = 0.0038 (Bcl6+/− vs. Bcl6−/−).
(G – I) Percentage and number of CD138+ plasma cells analyzed for intracellular expression of IgM and IgG isolated from spleens of 7–8 week-old Bcl6-intact or -deficient MRL/Faslpr mice. In (I), open bars represent Bcl6+/+, grey bars represent Bcl6+/− and black bars represent Bcl6−/− MRL/Faslpr mice. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments from 3 cohorts of mice, with 4–5 mice per group. In (H), p = 0.1497 (Bcl6+/+ vs. Bcl6−/−), p = 0.0817 (Bcl6+/− vs. Bcl6−/−). In (I), IgM p = 0.1591 (Bcl6+/+ vs. Bcl6−/−), *p = 0.0491 (Bcl6+/− vs. Bcl6−/−); IgG, p = 0.1209 (Bcl6+/+ vs. Bcl6−/−), *p = 0.0285 (Bcl6+/− vs. Bcl6−/−).