Figure 1. Leptin modulates the uptake of apoptotic cells in vitro from lupus macrophage.

Peritoneal macrophages (MΦ) from NZB/W lupus mice (A–B) or leptin-receptor-deficient (non-autoimmune) db/db mice (C–D) were co-cultured ex vivo with 1×10⁷ CFSE-labeled apoptotic cells (A, C) or necrotic cells (B, D) in the presence of scalar doses of leptin (x axis). After 2 h, cells were stained with PE-labeled anti-mouse CD11b Ab and the labeled phagocytosed material within macrophages (PE-positive) was visualized as co-staining in flow cytometry. Additional details are reported in the Methods. *p<0.01 vs no (0) leptin.