Fig. 4.

Plasmablasts are increased with the progression of T1D in NOD mice. A–B Representative plots and frequencies of plasmablasts in the spleens of NOD mice at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. C–E The frequencies of CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells among splenocytes of NOD mice at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. F Association between the frequencies of plasmablasts and IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells among splenocytes in NOD mice at different age. G–H Representative plots and the frequencies of plasmablasts in the PLNs of NOD mice at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Data indicated mean ± SD. Difference were analyzed by One-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test. Correlation was assessed by Pearson analysis. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. I Representative immunohistochemical staining for insulin (brown) in pancreatic islets from 4- and 16-week-old NOD mice. Scale bar, 200 μm. J Representative immunofluorescence staining of pancreatic islets from 4- and 16-week-old NOD mice. Pancreatic specimens were co-stained for CD138 (red), CD4 or CD8 (green), insulin (pink) and dapi (blue). Scale bar, 50 μm (left and middle), 20 μm (right, represent the boxed area in the middle). K Quantification of plasmablasts in pancreatic islets from 4- and 16-week-old NOD mice (n = 3 per group, a total of 56 islets in 4-week-old group and 59 islets in 16-week-old group were analyzed)