Figure 2.

Bach2^ΔCD4 mice display excessive Tfh cells and aberrant GC B cells in the MLNs. Lymphocytes from the MLNs of WT and Bach2^ΔCD4 mice at 2–3 months of age were subjected for analysis. (A) Representative flow cytometry plots, frequency quantification, and absolute number of CXCR5⁺PD-1⁺ and CXCR5⁺Bcl6⁺ T follicular cells (gated on CD4⁺B220⁻ cells). (B) Representative flow cytometry plots and frequency quantification of Tfh (Foxp3⁻) and Tfr (Foxp3⁺) cells among CXCR5⁺PD-1⁺ CD4 T cells. (C) Representative flow cytometry plots, frequency quantification, and absolute number of CD38^lo/−Fas⁺ GC B cells among splenic live B220⁺ cells. Quantification of the ratio of CD86^hiCXCR4^lo light zone (LZ) to CD86^loCXCR4^hi dark zone (DZ) B cells among GC B cells (bottom). (D) Representative flow cytometry plots and frequency quantification of IgG1⁺ and IgE⁺ cells among splenic GC B cells. All data were from at least two independent experiments. Each symbol represents one mouse, and small horizontal lines indicate the mean. ns, not significant; ^*P < 0.05 and ^**P < 0.01 (two-tailed t-test).