Figure 3. B cell–intrinsic TLR7 deficiency improves proteinuria and suppresses the anti-RNA–associated autoantibody responses.

Control (Tlr7^fl/fl and Tlr7^fl/y) and B-Tlr7^Δ (CD19-Cre^+/– Tlr7^fl/fl and CD19-Cre^+/– Tlr7^fl/y) mice were aged until 19 weeks (female) or 22 weeks (male). (A) Serum concentrations of anti–RNA IgG2a, anti–Sm IgG, and anti–nucleosome IgG in control and B-Tlr7^Δ mice (n = 37 and n = 31, respectively). (B and C) Evaluation of phenotypic disease markers in control and B-Tlr7^Δ mice including proteinuria, glomerulonephritis, and interstitial and perivascular infiltrates (B) and spleen and lymph node weight and dermatitis (n = 37 control and n = 31 B-Tlr7^Δ) (C). Scatterplots display data from individual mice, with black lines showing median values and dotted lines indicating the lower limit of detection. **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001 by 2-tailed Mann-Whitney U test.