Figure 6.

Effect of in vitro stimulation of human B cells on autophagy. (A) Human B cells were isolated and stimulated with combinations of anti-IgM, anti-CD40 and interferon-α, then stained with CytoID. (B) Annexin V staining in B cells, cultured with and without anti-IgM, and CytoID uptake in cells grouped as annexin V positive or negative (C). (D) Correlation between autophagy activation and cell viability, as assessed by viability dye exclusion. (E) Effect of B cell culture in healthy control or systemic lupus erythematosus patient serum on autophagy. Isolated B cells were cultured in RPMI supplemented with 10% human serum for 4 h, then stained with CytoID. Data illustrate the effects of serum from three patients and three healthy controls. Panels A–E are representative of three or more independent experiments. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.