Figure 5

Bcl-2 expression in infiltrating plasma cells of pSS patients and non-SS controls. A) CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 expressing cells (red) detected in a pSS patient with FS = 1. DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining of salivary glands cells. Merge image shows double positive (CD138 and Bcl-2) cells. B) Higher magnifications of CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 (red) expressing cells in a pSS patient with FS = 1. Merge image with CD138+ Bcl-2+ plasma cells. Only Bcl-2+ plasma cells were detected in the salivary glands of pSS patients with FS = 1. C) CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 expressing cells (red) detected in a pSS patient with FS = 4. DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining of salivary glands cells. D) Higher magnifications of CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 (red) expressing cells in a pSS patient with FS = 4. Merge image with CD138+ Bcl-2+ plasma cell. Only Bcl-2+ plasma cells were detected in the salivary glands of pSS patients with FS ≥2. E) CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 expressing cells (red) detected in a subject with chronically inflamed glands (CIG). DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining of salivary glands cells. F) Higher magnifications of CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 (red) expressing cells in a subject with CIG. Merge image with CD138+ Bcl-2+ and CD138+ Bcl-2- plasma cells. Both Bcl-2+ and Bcl-2- plasma cells were detected in the chronically inflamed tissue. G) CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 expressing cells (red) detected in a subject with normal gland (NG) histology. DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining of salivary glands cells. H) Higher magnifications of CD138 (green) and Bcl-2 (red) expressing cells in a subject with NG histology. Merge image with CD138+ Bcl-2+ and CD138+ Bcl-2- plasma cells. Both Bcl-2+ and Bcl-2- plasma cells were detected in the normal tissue.