Figure 5. Estrogen downregulates RAG expression through IL-6/IL-7R.
BALB/c mice (3-month-old) were ovariectomized and implanted with either estradiol (E2) or placebo pellets subcutaneously. Mice were rested 7–10 days and then immunized with DWEYS-MAP as described in Material and Methods. On day 17, antigen-specific B cells were isolated and RNA was extracted for qPCR to assess mRNA levels of RAG, IL-7R and IL-6.