Figure 7. Compensatory Germinal Center Responses in Mice Lacking Maternal Antibodies.

(A) Weights of offspring of µMT^+/− and µMT^−/− littermate dams at d25 post birth. (B) Frequencies of CD4⁺Foxp3⁻CD44^hi Teff cells in the mLN (left) and PP (right) of mice sufficient or deficient in maternal antibodies at the indicated days post birth. (C) Frequencies of CD4⁺Foxp3⁻CD44^hiT-bet⁺ (Th1), CD4⁺Foxp3⁻CD44^hiRORgt⁺ (Th17) or CD4⁺Foxp3⁻CD44^hiPD-1⁺CXCR5⁺ (Tfh) present in the mLN and PP of mice sufficient or deficient in maternal antibodies at d25 of age. Representative flow cytometric plots (right) of CXCR5 and PD-1 expression by gated live CD4⁺Foxp3⁻CD44^hi Teff cells in the PP of the indicated offspring. (D) Representative flow cytometric analysis (left) of PNA and GL-7 expression by gated live CD19⁺IgD^lo B cells present in the mLN of mice as in (C). Graphs display frequencies (middle) and numbers (right) of GC B cells present in the mLN and PP of indicated offspring. (E) Frequencies out of CD19+ cells of CD19⁺IgD^loPNA⁺GL-7⁺ GC B cells present in the mLN and PP of mice with or without maternal antibodies at the indicated days post birth. (F) Frequencies out of CD19+ cells of CD19⁺IgD^loPNA⁺GL-7⁺ GC B cells present in the mLN and PP of mice born to WT, µMT^−/− or IgA^−/− dams at d25 of age. Bars on graphs indicate medians; symbols represent individual mice. With the exception of (A), data are representative of 2–8 independent experiments with 4–6 mice per group, statistical significance was determined using two-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-tests were used for pairwise comparisons. For (A), data are compiled from 4 independent experiments, and statistical significance was determined using an unpaired student’s t-test. n.s. = not significant. See also Figure S7.