Differences in the proportion of MZ B cells in MCMV-infected WT male and female mice.

<p>WT and TLR9^−/− male and female mice were left uninfected or infected i.p. with 1×10⁵ PFU of MCMV and spleens were harvested 36 hours later. Erythrocyte-depleted splenocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry for the expression of B220, CD19, CD23, CD21, IgM and IgD. The MZ B cell population, B220⁺CD19⁺CD23^loCD21^hi on (A) or IgM^highIgD^lowCD21^high on (B), of MCMV-infected WT male and TLR9^−/− male and female mice was dramatically reduced compared to uninfected counterparts, while this reduction was minor in MCMV-infected female mice. (A) Plots show percentage of MZ B cells (CD23^loCD21^hi) on B220⁺ gated lymphocytes. (B) Histograms show expression of CD21 on IgM^highIgD^low B cells. (C) Graph with the numeric data of all 3 mice per group that were used for the experiments in (A) and (B). *p<0.05. The data are representatives of 3 independent experiments.