Figure 2
Sex differences in the generation of germinal centre (GC) B cells and IRF4 expression in B cells from CIA rats. Cells were obtained from lymph nodes draining inflamed joints and nearby tissues (dLNs) recovered at the peak of the clinical severity of CIA. (a) Representative flow cytometry histogram overlays display IgM expression on CD45RA+ cells from dLNs of male and female CII-immunized (CII) and non-immunized (NIM) rats. The number indicates the percentage in the region. Scatter plots show the frequency of IgMlow/− cells among CD45RA+ cells (GC B cells) and the number of GC B cells from dLNs of male and female rats. (b) Representative flow cytometry histogram overlay displays IRF4 expression on CD45RA+ cells from dLNs of male and female rats. The number indicates the percentage in the region. Scatter plots show the percentage of IRF4+ cells among CD45RA+ cells and IRF4 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) ratio of IRF4+ CD45RA+ cells from dLNs of male and female rats. Data are presented as means ± SEM. Horizontal lines within scatter plots indicate mean values. n = 8 rats per group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
