Fig. 1.

CX3CR1 is essential for the development of bone marrow and peripheral B cells. Flow cytometry analysis of BM cells (a, b) obtained from WT and CX3CR1 KO mice (n = 7) stained with Abs specific for surface markers of the subsets pre-pro (a), pro (b), early-pre (c), late-pre (d), immature (e) and recirculating mature (f) B cells. Shown are the average percentages (± SEM) and total cell number of the subpopulations of BM cells (c) and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD127 in B cell subsets (d). The expression of CX3CR1 in the different subsets of BM (e) and peripheral B cells (f). Splenic B cells were harvested and surface-stained for transitional 1 (T1), transitional 2 (T2), follicular (FO), marginal zone (MZ) and germinal center (GC) B cells. Samples were analyzed using Flow Jo (Tree Star) software and the summary statistics of percentage (± SEM) and absolute numbers of splenic B cells subsets were shown (g–n). Hematoxylin and eosin staining of spleen from WT and CX3CR1 KO were analyzed (o). The GC areas in the spleen of CX3CR1 KO mice were analyzed by HE staining (p). The levels of dsDNA in the serum of WT and CX3CR1 KO mice were analyzed by ELISA (q) (n = 6). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01