The lack of CTSL activity affects the intrinsic ability of BM progenitor cells to develop into B cells.

<p>Wt mice were lethally irradiated and 24 hs later transplanted with wt or CTSL<i>^nkt/nkt</i> BM cells. Twelve days later, BM and splenic cells were stained with anti-B220, anti-HSA, anti-IgD and anti-IgM before analysis by FACS. (A) Representative histograms of BM B220⁺ cells. (B) Dot plots of BM B-cell precursors (B220^loIgM⁻ and B220^loIgM⁺ cells). (C) Absolute numbers (mean ± SD; n = 10) of BM B220⁺, B220^loIgM⁻ and B220^loIgM⁺ cells. (D) Representative histograms of splenic B220⁺ cells. (E) Representative dot plots of splenic transitional B cells (HSA^hiB220^lo/+). (F) Representative dot plots of splenic T1 (IgM^hiIgD^low) and T2 (IgM^hiIgD^hi) cells (g) Absolute numbers (mean ± SD; n = 10) of splenic B220⁺, T1 and T2 cells. *<i>p</i><0.0005 compared to wt.