Fig. 1.

Early transient depletion of B cells is sufficient to inhibit development of SAT in NOD.H-2h4 mice. NOD.H-2h4 mice were given 100 μg anti-CD20 or isotype control i.p. and s.c. 9 and 16 days after birth. All mice were given NaI in their water at 8 weeks of age and thyroids were removed 2 months later. (a) Symbols represent SAT severity scores of individual mice 8 weeks after NaI water. The mean severity score for the group is indicated by the line. (b) Anti-MTg autoantibodies diluted 1/50 in serum from individual mice 8 weeks after NaI water. Results are expressed as mean OD₄₁₀ ± SEM. Significant differences between isotype control and anti-CD20-treated mice are indicated by the asterisk (P < 0.01).