Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Article Title: BTLA-Expressing Memory B Cells Are Associated with Belimumab-Induced Improvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
doi: 10.3390/ijms262311323
Figure Lengend Snippet: Belimumab treatment affects the B-cell subpopulations in patients with SLE. FACS analysis was performed on B cell subsets within the PBMCs isolated from patients with SLE before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment with belimumab. ( A – C ) Frequencies of all cell subsets: ( A ) Total B cells (CD3 − CD19 + ), ( B ) HVEM high naive B cells (CD19 + CD27 − HVEM high ), HVEM high memory B cells (CD19 + CD27 + HVEM high ), ( C ) BTLA high naive B cells (CD19 + CD27 − BTLA high ), BTLA high memory B cells (CD19 + CD27 + BTLA high ), and BTLA low naive B cells (CD19 + CD27 − BTLA low ). Each dot represents an individual patient sample ( n = 16), and bars represent the mean ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed using a mixed-effects model followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test to compare the data before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Statistically significant changes are marked with asterisks (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001).
Article Snippet: Anti-CD4-allophycocyanin (APC), anti-CD3-APC, anti-CD19-fluorescein isothiocyanate, and anti-CD19-phycoerythrin mAbs were purchased from Miltenyi Biotec.
Techniques: Isolation