Fig. 1.

Activation via B-cell receptor (BCR) and CD40 induces receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) expression in CD80⁺CD86⁺ B cells. a Freshly isolated PB B cells were stained with CD80 and CD86, and the proportion of each subset from 16 healthy controls (HC) and 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was analyzed by flow cytometry. b RANKL expression was analyzed in each subset of 24 patients with RA. Representative data are shown in (a) and (b). Horizontal lines show the mean (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.005). c Purified B cells from HC were stimulated for 24, 72 and 96 hours via BCR, CD40 or Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). d Purified B cells from HC were stimulated for 24 hours via BCR and/or CD40. RANKL mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative PCR in (c) and (d). The values are the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments (n = 5, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005). e Purified B cells from HC were incubated for 48 hours with or without BCR/CD40 stimulation, and CD80, CD86 and RANKL expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results shown are representative of three independent experiments. The values are the mean ± SEM (n = 4, *P < 0.05). No stim no stimulation, NS not significant