Fig 3.

Mer deficiency impairs phagocytosis of apoptotic eosinophils. A, Phagocytic capacity of mouse BMDMs (mBMDMs) from WT or Mer^KD mice was assessed after coculture with apoptotic mouse bmEos in the presence of Pros1 (n = 4-5). B, Phagocytic capacity of mouse AMs (mAMs) from WT or Mer^KD mice was assessed after coculture with apoptotic human eosinophils in the presence of Pros1 (n = 4-5). C, Schema of in vivo experimental protocol. i.p., Intraperitoneal; i.t., intratracheal. D, Annexin V binding of BALF eosinophils from WT or Mer^KD OVA-treated mice at 8, 16, and 24 hours after dexamethasone (Dex) treatment (n = 4-7). E, Representative flow cytometric plots (Annexin V/Siglec-F) from WT and Mer^KD mice showing the presence of Annexin V⁺ eosinophils (CD45⁺CD11b⁺Ly6G⁻Siglec-F⁺Annexin V⁺ cells) at 16 hours after dexamethasone. Data are expressed as means ± SEMs and analyzed by using the Student t test (Fig 3, A and B) or 2-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni test (Fig 3, D). *P < .05, **P < .01, and ***P < .001.