Fig. 9: METTL1 promotes autoreactive B-cell responses.

a–g Experiments on 3-month (3 m), 6 m and 9 m NZM238 mice (n = 4 biological independent samples). a Experimental scheme. b, c METTL1 expression in B cells from 3-, 6- and 9-month-old NZM2328 mice was measured via flow cytometry. Representative histograms and MFI data summarized in c. d, e Representative flow cytometry plots and MFIs of METTL1 expression in naive and GC B cells from 3 m, 6 m, and 9 m NZM2328 mice. f Representative ELISpot wells of anti-dsDNA IgG-secreting B cells in the splenocytes of 3 m, 6 m, and 9 m NZM2328 mice. g Linear correlation analysis between METTL1 MFI and anti-dsDNA IgG-secreting B cells in the spleens of NZM2328 mice (a simple linear regression analysis was used). h–s Autoimmune mouse models induced by apoptotic thymocytes were generated in WT and cKO mice (n = 6 biological independent samples). h Experimental scheme of the autoimmune mouse model induced by apoptotic thymocytes. i Immunofluorescence staining of spleen GCs in WT and cKO mice: B220 (red), CD3 (blue), and PNA (white). j, k Representative flow cytometry plots, and frequencies of GL7⁺CD38⁻ GC B cells in the spleens of WT and cKO mice. l, m Representative flow cytometry plots and frequencies of PBs and PCs in the spleens of WT and cKO mice. n Representative ELISpot wells and summarized data showing anti-dsDNA IgG-secreting B cells in splenocytes from WT and cKO mice. o ELISA of anti-dsDNA IgG antibodies in the serum. p–r Representative anti-mouse IgG and C3 staining, and PAS staining of kidney sections and summary scores. s Proteinuria score curve of mice. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM. A two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test was used in k, m–o, q–s, and one-way ANOVA was used in c, e, f. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. a and h were created with BioRender.com.