Fig. 3
B1 B cell depletion reduces circulating levels of neoepitope-specific natural IgM Abs and protects against SCI. a Quantification of B1a B cell depletion by flow cytometry analysis of peritoneal cells following a 6-week hypotonic shock procedure, demonstrating depletion of peritoneal B1 B cells (B220loCD5+). Mean ± SE, *p < 0.05, n = 3, and data is representative of three separate experiments. b–d Analysis of serum levels of total IgM, specific natural IgM antibodies with B4 mAb reactivity (annexin-IV) and C2 reactivity (phosphatidylcholine), determined by ELISA. Serum from mice treated with peritoneal injections of either PBS or water, as well as serum from WT mice, was analyzed. Mean ± SE, *p < 0.01, p < 0.001 respectively, n = 3–5. e Following B1 cell depletion or a control procedure, WT mice were subjected to SCI, and spinal cords isolated 72 h later for analysis. f, g Hemorrhaged area and lesion size and from step sections obtained across 1-mm distance, 0.5 mm from each side of the epicenter, and expressed as percentage of total area of each section analyzed. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, n = 6 animals per group