Inhibins Tune the Thymocyte Selection Process by Regulating Thymic Stromal Cell Differentiation

Figure 3

In Inhα^−/− mice absolute pDCs numbers are diminished in thymus, while other hematopoietic derived stromal cells do not show alterations (macrophages). (a) Representative dot plots of the strategy used to analyze pDCs; from total thymus an initial gate of CD11 MHCI cells was used (a, left) followed by a region in CD45R/B220⁺ cells (a, right). (b) Graphs represent the percentages and total numbers of thymic pDCs identified as CD11 MHCI CD45R/B220⁺ cells. (c) Expression of MHCII on pDCs. MFI was determined and relative expression calculated as in Figure 2. For pDCs, Inhα^+/+, and Inhα^−/−, were analyzed. (d) Analysis of macrophages was performed using a CD45⁺ gate, followed by MHCII⁺ F4/80⁺ detection. Percentages and absolute numbers are shown. (e) A representative histogram showing the MHCII expression in macrophages of Inhα^+/+ and Inhα^−/− mice (left panel); for each histogram two Inhα^−/− (gray and dashed lines) and one Inhα^+/+ mice (black line) were represented and the summary of data showing the relative expression of MHCII in macrophages (right panel) is shown. For macrophages, Inhα^+/+, and Inhα^−/−, were used. Statistical significance: .

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