FIGURE 5.

iTreg directly suppress autoreactive B cells in vitro and in vivo in lupus-prone mice. (A) iTreg and CD4_med cells induced from young or old BWF1 mice were co-cultured with B cells in the presence or absence of LPS for 3 days, the supernatants were harvested for measurement of IgG production by ELISA. Data were presented as the Mean ± SEM. ***p<0.001 means control CD4_med cell group versus iTreg group. (B and C) iTreg or control CD4_med cells induced from BWF1 mice that had developed high titers of anti-DNA and proteinuria were adoptively transferred to old lupus mice with evident lupus syndromes. These lupus mice have been previously depleted of endogenous T cells (300ug anti-mouse CD3 antibody, iv) 1 day before the cell transfer. The IgG antibody production was measured in different lupus mice groups at the 0, 1, 2 week time points after cell transfer. Data were presented as the Mean ± SEM. ***p<0.001 means CD4_med cell group versus iTreg group. (D and E) iTreg or CD4_med cells induced from NZM2328 mice with evident lupus syndromes were adoptively transferred to established lupus mice (16 weeks age), the anti-dsDNA IgG and proteinurina level were measured. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 means CD4_med control cell group vs. iTreg group at weeks 24 and 28.