Fig. 2.

Augmented proportions of IgA-expressing memory B-cell subsets. (a) Representative gating strategy for the identification of immunoglobulin surface expression (IgM or IgG) on IgD⁻ memory B-cells CD19⁺CD27⁺IgD⁻) or double negative (DN) B-cells (CD19⁺CD27⁻IgD⁻). (b) Gating strategy as described in panel A for a representative blood and lung sample for a control and IPF patient. (c; left) Pie chart showing the distribution of surface expression of IgD, IgM, IgG, and IgA on CD27⁺ memory B-cells depicted with mean percentage; (c: right) Proportions of IgA⁺ memory B-cells of total CD27⁺ memory B-cells in blood and lung samples. (D; left) Distribution of immunoglobulin expression of IgM, IgG and IgA on DN memory B-cells depicted in a pie-chart with mean percentage. (d; right) Proportions of IgA⁺ DN memory B cells of total DN B-cells in blood and lung samples

Non-parametric two-tailed Mann-Whitney test was used. Data are expressed as mean and dots represent individual patient values. ** P < 0.01 *** P < 0.001.