Figure 2.

IgA production and deposition vary with housing conditions. Influence of environmental stimuli on (A) mesangial IgA deposition and (B) plasma IgA levels in 6-week-old and 3-month-old α1KI mice housed in GF, SOPF, or CIS facilities. Homogeneous groups of five to six age-matched mice housed in the same conditions were studied. Deposits were detected on kidney sections by fluorescence microscopy using FITC–conjugated anti–human IgA. Representative pictures are shown. IgA was measured in plasma by ELISA (mean±SEM; Kruskall–Wallis test followed by Bonferroni test). **P<0.01.