Fig. 1.

Release of galectin‐3 binding protein (G3BP)‐ and dsDNA‐expressing microvesicles (MVs) from Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐9‐stimulated mononuclear cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 healthy donors (HD; white columns), six systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without active lupus nephritis (LN) (not active LN; gray columns) and six SLE patients with active LN (active LN; black columns) were left non‐stimulated (NS) or stimulated with the TLR‐9 agonist oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)2395 for 24 h. MVs released into the culture supernatants were subsequently isolated by ultracentrifugation, quantified and characterized with respect to expression of G3BP and dsDNA by flow cytometry. Columns and error bars represent median values and interquartile range. (a) The total concentration of MVs in culture supernatants. (b) The concentration of G3BP and dsDNA double‐positive MVs and (c) the G3BP‐expressing MV population in toto with (d) corresponding G3BP‐derived median fluorescence intensity (MFI) values. (e) The concentration of the dsDNA‐expressing MV population in toto with (f) corresponding dsDNA‐derived MFI values. Asterisks above horizontal lines represent P‐values for comparisons between non‐stimulated and stimulated samples, whereas values above brackets are P‐values for comparisons between groups. *P < 0·05; **P < 0·01.