Effects of IRF4 deletion in CD11c⁺ cells on DC, T, and B cell populations in DKO mice.

<p>(<b>A)</b> Spleens of 14–20 weeks old WT, DKO and CD11c-Cre IRF4^fl/fl DKO mice were assayed for DC populations by flow cytometry. Splenocytes were gated on MHCII⁺CD11c⁺B220^- conventional DCs and analyzed for the proportion and numbers of CD11b⁺DCs and CD8⁺DCs. (<b>B</b>) CD86 and PDL2 cell surface expression on CD11b⁺DCs. Histograms show relative expression of the indicated marker on WT (red), DKO (blue) and CD11c-Cre IRF4^fl/fl DKO (green) mice. Representative data of at least 2 independent experiments with a total of 3–5 mice per group is shown. (<b>C-F</b>) WT, DKO and CD11c-Cre IRF4^fl/fl DKO total splenocytes were analyzed for their CD4⁺T cell (<b>C-D</b>) and B cell (<b>E-F</b>) populations. Percentages and numbers of activated Tregs (CD4⁺Foxp3⁺CD44⁺), activated T cells (CD4⁺Foxp3^-CD44⁺), Tfh (CD4⁺Foxp3^-PD1⁺CXCR5⁺), germinal center B cells (GC; B220⁺GL7⁺Fas⁺) and plasma cells (PC; B220⁺CD138⁺) are shown. Scatter plots show data of individual mice and mean value of 4 independent experiments. *: p<0.05; **: p<0.01, ***: p<0.001, ****: p≤0.0001.