Figure 4

The sexual dimorphic effect of IL-17 on anti-nuclear autoantibody response.

(A) Higher percentage of speckled ANA pattern in males and homogenous and nucleolar patterns in females. Sera of mice (B6 F, n = 5; B6 M, n = 5; B6.Il17^−/− F, n = 8; B6.Il17^−/− M, n = 5; B6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 F, n = 8; B6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 M, n = 5; B6.NOD-Aec1Aec2.Il17^−/− F, n = 6; B6.NOD-Aec1Aec2.Il17^−/− M, n = 5) were incubated with HEp2 cells, followed by AF488 goat anti-mouse IgG (green) and DAPI (blue). Representative images of negative, homogenous, nucleolar, and speckled staining patterns are given at 100x magnification. The bar graph displays the frequency of occurrence of each of the different staining patterns. The experiment was repeated twice. A Chi squared test was performed, where **p < 0.001. (B) Decrease in anti-La in males and anti-Ro60 in females. Changes in anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60, and anti-La autoantibodies in males versus females by IL-17 were determined by ELISA. The statistical significance was calculated using one-tailed Mann-Whitney tests, *p < 0.05.