Fig. 3

Germinal center (GC) B-cell responses were suppressed in Il21r KO mice with CIA. a Absolute numbers of total B cells (CD19⁺CD45R⁺ cells) of the draining LNs in WT mice (filled circle) or Il21r KO mice (open square) during the course of CIA. b Representative dot plots of GL7 and CD95 expression on B cells gated by B220 and CD19 at 0 or 35 days after CIA induction. Numbers (upper right quadrant) indicate the percentage of CD95⁺GL7⁺ cells in B cells (CD19⁺B220⁺ cells). c Absolute numbers of GC B cells (GL7⁺CD95⁺CD19⁺B220⁺ cells) in the draining LNs of WT mice (filled circle) or Il21r KO mice (open circle) during the course of CIA. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was analyzed by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (a, c). *p < 0.05, different between WT mice and Il21r KO mice. Data are representative of three independent experiments. Il21r KO IL-21 receptor knockout, WT wild type