Figure 1.

Loss of the Stimulator of Type I Interferon Genes (STING) Increases Survival of Fcgr2b^−/− Lupus Mice

(A and C–H) Gene expression profiles from spleens of wild-type and Fcgr2b^−/− mice at the age of 6 months were tested by real-time PCR (N = 10–12 per group). The relative RNA expressions (normalized by actin) of (A) Sting, (C) Irf3, (D) Irf7, (E) Mx1, (F) Ifn-β, (G) Ifn-γ, and (H) Cxcl10 are shown.

(B) Isolated splenocytes were analyzed for STING protein expression by western blot. Data are representative of three mice per group. Quantification of the intensity was normalized by actin (N = 3 per group).

(I) The concentration of cGAMP from isolated splenocytes (N = 5–7).

(J) The Fcgr2b-deficient mice were crossed with Sting-deficient mice (Sting^gt/gt) to generate the double-deficient mice (Fcgr2b^−/−. Sting^gt/gt) and littermate controls. The survival curve of the mice was observed for up to 12 months (N = 14 per group).

Error bars indicate SEM; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗p < 0.001. The dollar sign ($) shown the comparison between the group.